Saturday, January 7 2006 14:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: Normal life was disrupted in most parts of Orissa today (Jan 07, 2006) as the protest call supported by the opposition parties to condemn the January 2 police firing at Kalinga Nagar in Jajpur district evoked a mixed response.

Road and rail transport came to a grinding halt in the state while shops and business establishments downed their shutters almost everywhere.

However, government offices remained open at many places although with thin attendance. The government had ordered the closure of educational institutions in the state. Opposition activists spread out obstructing traffic and forcing shopkeepers to down their shutters.

Life in the state capital and Cuttack virtually came to a halt with the streets deserted and lathi-wielding policemen deployed at various crossings.

In Bhubaneswar, activists set roadside hoardings on fire at the Station square and AG square crossings even as police watched silently. A traffic post was uprooted and set ablaze at the Kalpana crossing.

Groups of tribals, armed with bows and arrows, were found obstructing traffic at several places.

Traffic on the NH-5 was disrupted at five points and several places on the Bhubaneswar Puri NH-203 within the capital city by groups of protesters while shops, business establishments, ATMs and banks remained closed.

Railway services were completely thrown out of gear by the bandh in the state as long-distance trains were stopped at various stations.