Bhubaneswar, July 31: Health service at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (Vimsar) in Burla near Sambalpur was affected as the deadlock continued following attack on the director's residence on the night of July 28.

Local residents today observed a dawn-to-dusk strike in support of the director and demanded arrest of the culprits involved in the violence. On the other hand, the medicos continued their cease work in protest against the alleged highhandedness of the director.

The institute's director Aswini Pujahari today went to the dharna site to meet the agitating students to discuss the issue with them. But, the students raised slogans against him.

Pujahari later said: "It's not possible to discuss with the students in such a situation. If a group of three to four students come to us in a delegation, we will discuss with them."

However, no delegation turned up for talks, and the students remained adamant on their demands for removal of the director.

The state government seemed helpless as the solution to the deadlock remained elusive. "Efforts are on to resolve the impasse through amicable negotiation," said health minister Pratp Jena.

On the other hand, life came to standstill in Burla because of the strike. Educational institutions, banks and financial institutions, shops, state and central government offices remained closed.

The strike observers, who rallied behind the director for his pro-patient approach, gheraoed the local police station demanding arrest of the students involved in the attack on the director's residence. They picketed in front of the entrance to the Vimsar. They tried to march towards the hospital as well, but the police prevented them.

On the other hand, the girl students today took out a rally and lodged a complaint against the director after some posters threatening them had been found near the ladies' hostel.

They alleged that the posters had been pasted at the behest of the director. However, Pujahari denied such allegation and accused the students of pasting the posters to provoke a section of students, who had refused to join the agitation.

The confrontation between the two sides began on July 28 after a group of medicos had allegedly manhandled a patient's attendant, and subsequently, pelted Pujahari's residence with stones. Next day, the Burla residents gheraoed the local police station.

In the late evening, a meeting was held at the director's chamber to resolve the deadlock. The talks were going on till filing of the report. Sambalpur collector, police superintendent, representatives of the agitating students, Vimsar superintendent and the principal attended the meeting, which was called on the initiative of local MLA Raseswari Panigrahi.