Sambalpur Jan. 21: A dawn-to-dusk strike called by the Burla town wing of the BJD today paralysed life here.

The BJD has been demanding expulsion of the chairperson of Burla notified area council Chandrabati Naik, as the caste certificate submitted by her claiming to be a person of scheduled caste was allegedly found to be fake.

Government offices, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed. Vehicular movement was also disrupted.

“I have come to Burla to meet a relative, who is being treated at VSS hospital. I was unaware of the strike call. The bus, in which I was travelling, could not enter the town. I had to get down at University Chhak on the national highway and walk to the hospital,” said Madhu Sudan Bhoi, a resident of Sohela in Bargarh district.

President of the Burla town BJD Sanjaya Gauda claimed the strike to be spontaneous. “Various sections of people extended their support to our agitation,” he said.

Vice-chairperson of Burla notified area council Debendra Pradhan said: “The district administration has recommended that she should be terminated from the post. We want the government to take immediate action.'

On November 27 last year, Burla police had registered a case against Naik for submitting a forged certificate. She had secured anticipatory bail.

Naik, however, said: “Those, who have called for strike, are only harassing the common man. The government will take the decision on whether I will continue in my job or not.”