Bhubaneswar, June 16 -- Demanding the establishment of educational institutions and industrial projects, a 12-hour bandh is being observed in Kantabanji town of Odisha's Bolangir district on Tuesday.

The shutdown, called by the Kantabanji Truck Owners' Association, began at 6 am and will continue until 6 pm. The protesters are demanding the establishment of an engineering college, an agriculture college, a nursing college, and various industrial units to boost employment opportunities and accelerate the development of the region.

Normal life was affected as shops, markets, and several business establishments remained closed in response to the bandh call. Vehicular movement was also impacted in some parts of the town as supporters staged...