Baripada: Pressing for three-point charter of demands, including a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court (HC) in Baripada, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) observed a 12-hour bandh in Mayurbhanj today throwing normal life out of gear.

Due to the dawn-to-dusk bandh, schools and colleges, shops and other business establishments have remained closed. Besides, vehicular movements in the locality have come to a grinding halt as the activists staged road blockade on NH-18 and NH-49. The activists were seen staging picketing at various places including Baripada, Rairangpur and Udala.

The JMM activists also demanded development of rail service in the district. They alleged that the State Government has been showing step-motherly attitude towards Mayurbhanj during the last 18 years. It approached the Government for a permanent HC bench in south and western Odisha. But the government did not vouch anything for Mayurbhanj.

The agitators threatened that they would intensify their stir in coming days if the State Government continues to remain indifferent to their demands.