Lawyers closed down banks in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture

Sambalpur, Feb.7: Lawyers today intensified their agitation demanding establishment of a high court bench in the region. All financial institutions in the district headquarters town were shut down because of the protest.

Members of the bar association today picketed in front of the banks and financial institutions of the city, forcing them to shut down.

The lawyers took the decision to close down the banks and the financial institutions here for three days — February 7, 8 and 10. They have stopped functioning of state and central government offices in the region, besides the district judiciary, since Feb 3.

Five members of the central action committee of the All West Odisha Bar Association are on an indefinite hunger strike in front of the office of the revenue divisional commissioner.

The agitation has also affected the functioning of the state and central government offices in Jharsuguda, Bargarh, Deogarh and Sundargah. Earlier, lawyers from across the region had observed a Chetawani Saptaha and adorned a black badge from January 21 to 28. They also staged a dharna in Bhubaneswar on January 29 and 30.

“We have been demanding the state government to send a complete and comprehensive proposal to the Union government regarding establishment of high court bench in this region. The members of central committee have also been on hunger strike for the last three days to press for the demand. However, the government has remained indifferent to our demands,” said convener of the central action committee of Samalpur Bar Association, Pradeep Bohidar.

The Sambalpur Bar Association also convened a general body meeting on the premises of the Sambalpur bar today. “We had a discussion about intensifying the agitation. In the meeting, we also discussed about involving social organisations, students’ organisations and common people,” said Bohidar.