Bhubaneswar, Feb 28 (IANS) The day-long shutdown called by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) to protest against the ban on the entry of its top leader Pravin Togadia hit normal life in Odisha's Kandhamal district Saturday, police said.
People and commercial vehicles stayed off the roads in most places including the district headquarter town of Phulbani. Shops, hotels and business establishments also downed shutters, district superintendent of police Kanwar Vishal Singh told IANS.
"Some shops are opened here and there. Although four wheelers stayed off the roads, bikes and two wheelers are operating as usual. Emergency services such as hospitals were operating normally. The shutdown has remained uneventful so far," he said.
Togadia was scheduled to address a gathering of VHP supporters at Phulbani Saturday.
The VHP called the shutdown after authorities imposed a ban on Togadia's entry into the district following apprehension that it might disturb the peace.
VHP leader Bhagaban Mohanty accused the local administration of double standards. "While it had allowed Christian missionaries to hold meetings in the region in the past, we do not understand why it restricted Togadia," he said.
At least 38 people were killed and thousands had to flee their homes following widespread communal violence in the region in 2008 after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati.
Different Christian groups had moved the local and state administration seeking a ban on the proposed visit of Togadia, saying his fiery speeches might upset the fragile peace between communities.
At least five people are reported dead in the uproar at Kabul Airport in Afghanistan. Internation
In the Chinese Visa Case, the CBI has arrested Bhaskar Raman, a close aide of Karti, son of forme
Along with the world, an increase in new cases of the corona is being recorded in India as well.
Cases of suicide increased in Japan, women committed suicide the most
There has been a sudden increase in suicide cases in Japan. The reason for the increase in suicid
Famous singer Mika Singh has commented on the controversy related to Ranveer Allahabadia and Sama
The pace of growth in the country's manufacturing sector continued in February with new orders an
Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede reached Delhi on Monday following a
On Sunday evening, only one name echoed in the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo and that na
India's intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) has been embroiled in controversies
India will not tolerate attempts to change LAC: Foreign Minister warns China in Rajya Sabha
Today is the second day of the winter session of Parliament. On the first day of the session, Ext
