Boudh: Normal life was thrown out of gear in Harabhanga on Thursday as the local unit of the CPI observed a dawn-to-dusk bandh demanding establishment of a judicial magistrate first-class (JMFC) court.

All government and private offices, banks and insurance offices remained closed. Commuters faced untold difficulties as public transports also remained out of bounds. Schools and colleges remained closed on their own fearing law and order situation.

CPI members alleged that though the state government had long ago announced the establishment of a JMFC court in the block headquarters town, no steps have been taken so far. The activists picketed at various keys points of the town - such as Harabhanga, Puruna Cuttack, Madhapur, Charichhak, Chhatran and Lunibahal - to mark the bandh.

The protesters also blocked the Khurda-Balangir National Highway-57, bringing vehicular movement on the route to a standstill. They also staged demonstrations in front of various government and non-government institutions to press their demand.

Atulya Pradhan, a local resident, said that he had problem in going to Boudh for office work as the activists had blocked the NH-57. "I had some work in Boudh, but I couldn't get any vehicle to go there. However, I support the demand for the establishment of the court in Harabhanga," he said.

General secretary of the Boudh unit of the CPI Abinash Sahu said that the bandh call was essential as government was not paying any attention to their demand.

"The bandh was total and spontaneous. This shows that the public was with us on the demand. The state government had committed to setting up of the JMFC court in Harbhanga long ago. But it has not done anything to establish the court. We demand that the court be established as soon as possible," Sahu said.