Oppn Observe Odisha Bandh Over Balasore Student’s Death, Leaders Detained, Normal Life Hit

Odisha Bandh: Congress and several left parties enforced a 12-hour bandh across Odisha over the death of the Balasore student who set herself ablaze after being denied justice in an alleged sexual harassment incident.

The second-year B.Ed student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College died at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar on Monday night after fighting for her life for three days. The principal of the college and the accused professor have been arrested by the police. 

Several leaders of the opposition parties including Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu were detained by the police in Bhubaneswar. 

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Opposition leaders and workers, including Odisha Congress in-charge Ajay Kumar Lallu, detained by the police who are observing Odisha Bandh against the state government over the death of a student of Fakir Mohan (Autonomous) College by… pic.twitter.com/N3sGpEfKFh

— ANI (@ANI) July 17, 2025

Alongside Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), Forward Bloc, Rashtriya Janata Dal, Samajwadi Party and Nationalist Congress Party hit the streets, holding their party flags to enforce the bandh.

Odisha Bandh: Top Points

• Roads in major cities of the state, including Cuttack and the capital Bhubaneswar, wore a deserted look with a few vehicles plying. Normal life was partially affected in the state. 
• As the protestors started demonstrations since 6 am in support of the bandh, train services were affected in some places like Jatni, Puri, and Bhadrak stations. 
• Markets, schools, and business establishments remained closed. 
• The protestors blocked several arterial roads in Bhubaneswar and raised slogans against the BJP government and demanded justice for the deceased college girl in Balasore.
• The movement of essential services such as ambulances, medical facilities, medicine stores and milk parlours was exempted from the purview of the bandh.
• Odisha’s Petroleum Dealers’ Association shut all its fuel outlets from 6 am to 6 pm on Thursday as a precautionary measure. 
• The Mohan Charan Majhi government beefed up the security across the state in view of the bandh.
• All district collectors and SPs were directed by the home department to remain on high alert in view of the road blockades, picketings, and agitations. The department also cautioned them against violence during the 12-hour bandh.