Truck owners observe rail roko at Keonjhar. Telegraph picture

Keonjhar, May 7: Transportation of minerals from the district through rail route was paralysed today because of a rail roko launched by local truck operators.

The truckers have called for an indefinite rail roko demanding resumption of mineral transport by trucks.

The Odisha government has stopped transportation of minerals by trucks from last year after a multi-crore mining scam surfaced in the state.

The indefinite rail roko was called by the truck operators following failure of talks with the district administration and mine owners last week. The agitators, who had called for a 12-hour Keonjhar bandh on April 30, had decided to go for for a rail roko agitation on May 2. However, they later decided not to proceed with their decision for rail roko following an assurance that the issue would be resolved through discussion with the district administration and mine owners.

“Today’s rail roko was a success as rake transportation was completely paralysed. The agitation will continue till our demand for restoration of the transportation of iron ore by trucks is met by the government,” said secretary of the Keonjhar Truck Owners’ Association Pradeep Kumar Barik.

The association leaders, however, said passenger trains had been spared as they had decided not to create inconvenience to the public.

While the members of the Keonjhar Truck Owners’ Association stopped goods trains at Keonjhar railway station, protestors in Joda and Barbil also squatted on rail tracks at their localities.