Odisha Shuts Down in Protest: Opposition Calls Statewide Bandh Over Student’s Tragic Death, Demands Justice and Accountability

Bhubaneswar: Odisha witnessed a tense and emotionally charged day on Thursday as several opposition parties united to observe a statewide bandh following the tragic death of a 20-year-old female student from Fakir Mohan Autonomous College in Balasore. The student, who had attempted self-immolation after alleging harassment and lack of action from authorities, succumbed to her injuries earlier this week, sparking widespread outrage.

The bandh, led by the Congress party and supported by other opposition groups including the All India Forward Bloc, brought normal life to a standstill in several districts. In Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj, markets remained completely shut while public transport services were heavily disrupted.

Major roadways like the Chennai-Kolkata Highway witnessed severe traffic congestion as buses, trucks, and private vehicles were stranded for hours. Long queues of halted traffic painted a picture of the bandh’s far-reaching impact across the state.

Opposition leaders accused the ruling state government of neglecting repeated pleas for help made by the deceased student. “This tragedy could have been avoided if the administration had acted in time,” said one opposition leader, reiterating the call for accountability.

Protesters carried placards and shouted slogans demanding a high-level investigation into the circumstances leading to the student’s death. Many women’s rights groups also joined the protests, emphasizing the need for safer environments in educational institutions and quicker grievance redressal mechanisms.