Report by Amarnath Parida; Jagatsinghpur: Dawn-to-dusk Jagatsinghpur bandh call given by local bazaar committee to protest against deteriorating law and order situation has paralyzed the normal life on Thursday.

The life of the general public and local businessmen are under threat as dreaded criminals have threatened them for demanding extortion and looted lakhs of rupees at gut point from passer byres and traders on different occasions. Even, police has failed to nab the culprits in which both traders and other people are living in panicky condition. The law and order situation in Jagatsinghpur has been completely paralyzed due to rise of firing, bomb hurling by anti socials including murder, dacoit, snatching rape, atrocity on dalit and other criminal activities. This district has turned as the heaven of criminals so local traders have sacred to perform business activities due to threat of dreaded criminals.

Similarly, three miscreants hurled bombs at cell phone shop and ransacked the shop in last week while shop owner refused to give extortion. This incidence had occurred just 100 meters way from town police station but police have failed to nab the criminals.

Locals and traders have termed the bandh successful as all shops including medicines and other essential services were closed on this occasion.

President of Jagatsinghpur Bazar committee Mr Satyabrat Mohapatra said ‘the lives of traders are under threat in Jagatsinghpur town so police has completely failed to give protection these traders. It is very difficult to stand a business during this competitive market so collection of extortion from traders at gun point and bomb hurling by dreaded criminals have worsened the situation so committee intensified stir for demanding to nab these criminals’. - He added.

The streets wore a deserted look as all the shops and business establishments remained closed. During the bandh, traffic movements remained off the roads. Various organizations including auto and trekker associations have also extended their support to the bandh. Police and civil administration made elaborate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident.

Superintendent of police Mr Satyabrat Bhoi said ‘special squad has been formed to nab the dreaded criminals who have been involved in these criminal activities. Main accused of cell phone shop bomb hurling incidence has been arrested and effort is going on to nab other culprits’. He added.