Bhubaneswar, March 20 -- A two-day bandh is being observed in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, particularly in the Rairangpur sub-division, following a call by tribal organisations demanding the release of 34 arrested tribal persons.

The shutdown has been organised over a three-point charter of demands, with the immediate release of those arrested emerging as the central issue. The arrests were made after a confrontation between police and villagers during a road blockade in Bahalda.

The bandh has significantly disrupted daily life in the region. Shops and markets remained closed in areas such as Bisoi, Bahalda and Tiring, while the movement of heavy vehicles on National Highway-220 was affected. Petrol pumps also remained impacted during ...