The girls’ weightlifting sports hostel in Berhampur. Picture by Gopal Krishna Reddy

Berhampur, May 6: Protests against shifting of the girls’ weightlifting sports hostel from here to Bhubaneswar have gained momentum with the BJP calling a bandh on May 9.

“We have been on a hunger strike outside the office of the revenue divisional commissioner (southern division) here since May 2 opposing the move of the district administration. We will continue the strike till May 9 and observe a bandh to make the public aware about the situation and put pressure on the district administration to bring back the hostel,” said BJP city unit president Ram Kumar Patra.

Various organisations, including Lanjipalli Yuvak Sangha, Ganjam Athletics Association, Janahitakara Party, Ganjam District Boxing Association, Mahan Sangha, Prativa and Om Laughing Club have supported the bandh call.

Two members — P. Jagannath Giri and Ashok Nimai — who were observing the hunger strike were admitted to MKCG hospital after their health deteriorated.

The protestors had locked the main gate of the Berhampur Stadium on the night of April 3.

“We saw weightlifting equipment being loaded on a pick-up van. When we protested and locked the main gate of the stadium to prevent the vehicle’s exit, the helper of the vehicle and some staff of the stadium suddenly unloaded the equipment,” said Patra.

Ten women weightlifters, who were being trained at the hostel, were shifted to Bhubaneswar on March 29. They had come to Berhampur from Bhubaneswar nine months ago.

Sub-collector Ajit Kumar Mishra, along with Ganjam district sports officer Akshya Mahanty and senior police officers had assured the agitators on April 4 that the hostel would not be shifted for at least a month. But it was shifted after seven days on April 11.

Former deputy speaker of the Assembly Ram Chandra Panda discussed the matter with sports secretary I. Srinivas and requested him to reconsider the decision.