Bhubaneswar: Vehicular movement was disrupted at several places in Odisha on Wednesday as the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) observed a 12-hour statewide bandh over its six-point demands, including the resignation of the School and Mass Education Minister.

The bandh began at 6 am and will continue till 6 pm. The organisation has appealed to people to observe the shutdown peacefully without affecting emergency services. It has also called for the closure of shops and suspension of vehicular movement during the bandh.

The NNKS has raised concerns over errors in school textbooks for Classes I to VIII and has held the School and Mass Education Department and the minister responsible. The organisation is also demanding the filling up of vacant teacher posts, among other demands.

The bandh had an impact in Bhubaneswar, where members of the Naba Nirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan staged protests and blocked roads at several locations. In Baramunda, protesters reportedly burnt tyres and disrupted traffic movement.

In Balasore district, protesters blocked National Highway-16 at Talanagar Square in Soro. Road blockades were also reported in Jagatsinghpur.

The organisation has planned picketing at different locations across the state to enforce the shutdown.

Around 10 platoons of police personnel have been deployed in Bhubaneswar to maintain law and order and manage the situation.

The NNKS has warned of intensifying its protest if its demands are not addressed.