Bhubaneswar police have warned that protesters who forcibly shut shops, block roads or obstruct daily life during the India Bloc’s 12-hour statewide bandh will face criminal cases, while 18 platoons of police have been deployed across the Odisha capital to maintain public order.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Saravana Vivek M said peaceful and lawful demonstrations would be permitted, but warned against coercive enforcement of the bandh. “Protests must remain peaceful and within the boundaries of the law. If anyone tries to enforce the bandh through sheer force, police will take strict legal action,” he said, according to a report by Pragativadi.
The police response is focused on keeping public movement and essential services operational during the day-long agitation. Key checkpoints, major intersections, government offices, railway stations, bus terminals, educational institutions and busy marketplaces are under surveillance, the report said.
Senior police officials are monitoring patrolling and crowd-management arrangements. PCR vans, Quick Response Teams and reserve forces have also been placed on standby to respond to incidents and manage gatherings across the city.
The bandh has been called by the India Bloc over several demands, including withdrawal of amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, the resignation of the Mass Education Minister and the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner. Protesters have reportedly undertaken picketing, rail blockades and road blockades at various locations.
The mobilisation creates an immediate operational challenge for Bhubaneswar because the city’s daily functioning depends on the uninterrupted movement of buses, trains, emergency vehicles, workers and students across a network of busy corridors. The police deployment covers both transport nodes and public institutions, indicating that authorities are treating possible disruption to mobility and access to services as a central law-and-order concern.
State authorities have also alerted District Collectors and District Magistrates to safeguard public peace, prevent untoward incidents and ensure that essential services and government offices continue functioning. Administrative arrangements have been made to protect national highways, railway networks and critical emergency services from major disruptions.
The Bhubaneswar police have advised residents to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel and follow updates issued through the police control room, which is monitoring the situation around the clock. The DCP said the force’s primary focus was to ensure that public convenience and essential services remained uninterrupted.
