Hartal by Congress to Press for DS Mishra’s Removal
Odishabarta
Berhampur:The Congress held six-hour “HARTAL” in Odisha on Friday demanding the sacking and arrest of Minister of State for Home Dibya Shankar Mishra, who is in the eye of the storm for his alleged closeness with the prime accused in Mamita Meher kidnap and murder case.
The “hartal” began at 6 am amidst tight security and was peaceful with no report of any untoward incident, police said.
The Opposition parties, comprising Congress and BJP, have been demanding the sacking of D S Mishra since the body of the 24-year-old lady teacher was exhumed from the compound of the school where she taught in Kalahandi on October 19.
Ganjam District Congress Committee had called six-hour bandh across the district including Berhampur Mahanagar but the Orissa High Court on Thursday ruled that only a “hartal” can be held and not a general strike.
Following the ruling, Congress activists were seen picketing at several places. But none prevented plying of vehicles or forced shops and business establishments to down shutters as security personnel stood guard at major points. Many party activists were seen requesting people to observe the “hartal”. Small shops were open and some vehicles operated across the district. Buses were seen plying in Berhampur.
Among others senior Congress leader and activist Pitabash Panda,Pramod Jena,Vokali Sethi,Ranjan Tarei,Sai Prasad Patra,Udiya Panigrahi,Prasant Sahu,Sudhir Maharana,Sunil Jena,Prafula Ghadei,Ashok Sahu,Biswajit Sethi,Ladu Kishor Barika and Sujit Dash took active participation.
