12-Hr Bandh in Sambalpur Demanding Koshala State

Sambalpur: A dawn to dusk bandh demanding a separate ‘Koshala’ state is being observed in Sambalpur town on Wednesday.

The Sambalpur Nagarika Kriyanusthana Committee has given this 12-hour bandh call. The organization wants the formation of a separate state named ‘Koshala’ comprising districts in western Odisha. It is also demanding the establishment of a permanent bench of the Orissa High Court in Sambalpur.

Most traders’ associations of Sambalpur extended to support this bandh call. The agitators have excluded emergency services, educational institutions, and vehicles carrying examinees from the ambit of the bandh.