All the nationalized and private Banks, insurance authorities and other financial institutions did not function today in support of the demand by lawyers to set up a permament bench of the Orissa High Court in western Odisha.
The shutdown of financial bodies hit transactions to the tune of thousand crores in the Western Odisha districts daily. Banking transactions and other activities would be affected for two more days as part of the lawyers' stir.
All central and state government offices, courts also remained shut since February 3 in the districts of Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Deogarh, Bargarh, Subarnapur, Sundargarh.
The Central Action Committee (CAC) of Western Odisha Lawyers' Association has called for the 72-hour shutdown for the banks and other financial institutions.
Police and Paramilitary Forces were deployed in large numbers to maintain law and order across the region.
Meanwhile, five members of CAC continued their indefinite fast outside the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner since February 5.
"Lawyers in these districts have decided to intensify their agitations for an Orissa High Court Bench in Western Odisha," Ashok Dash, Convener of CAC.
The bank shutdown is part of their solidarity with the lawyers' movement, a CAC spokesman said.
Last year all government offices remained closed for 42-days, starting from August 20,2013 for High Court Bench demand in the region.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik last year recommended to the Centre for establishment of two permanent benches of Orissa High Court in western and southern parts of the state, but none of the benches came up as yet.
