What Sparked the Odisha Bandh? A Tragic Incident Ignites Protests Across the State

Protests Erupt in Odisha Following Student's Death

In Bhubaneswar, a coalition of eight opposition parties, spearheaded by the Congress, organized an 'Odisha Bandh' on Thursday. This protest was in response to the tragic death of Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from FM Autonomous College in Balasore, who attempted self-immolation on campus due to perceived negligence and later died from her injuries at AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

On Tuesday, Bhakta Charan Das, the state Congress president, called for the bandh, demanding a judicial investigation into the circumstances surrounding Bisi's death. Senior Congress figure Jayadev Jena stated that the bandh would be conducted peacefully from 6 AM to 6 PM, urging the people of Odisha to join in the effort to seek justice for the young student. Das also announced that all private and government bus and truck services would be suspended, and train operations would be disrupted. Educational institutions, banks, and both government and private offices were also expected to close, with only emergency services permitted to operate during the bandh.

In a related incident, several members of the ruling BJD party, including two former ministers, sustained injuries during a clash with police on Wednesday while participating in a protest rally. The BJD's demonstration escalated into violence near Lower PMG Square when party members attempted to breach a police barricade to reach the state secretariat, Lok Seva Bhavan. Police responded with water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. However, BJD leaders claimed they were struck by rubber bullets, a statement the police denied. Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena clarified that only water cannons and tear gas were used. BJD president and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik condemned the police's actions, labeling them as excessive and inhumane. He expressed concern over the threats to democratic protest rights in Odisha, emphasizing the need for accountability regarding the tragic death of the young student.