Bhubaneswar, Oct. 8 -- The Odisha Congress organised a torch rally ahead of the Odisha bandh called by the Congress and INDIA bloc, while the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate said around 150 officers would be deployed to maintain law and order during the shutdown on Thursday.

Odisha Congress president Bhakta Charan Das appealed to people to support the bandh, describing it as a fight to protect constitutional and land rights.

"I humbly appeal to the people of Odisha to support our democratic Bandh tomorrow. This is a fight to protect our constitutional rights and the rights over our land," Das said on Wednesday.

He also appealed to party workers to ensure that the shutdown remained peaceful and democratic while respecting the...