Bandh in Tikabali Sparks Outcry Over Tragic Gangrape Case

A daylong bandh in Tikabali, Odisha, demanded justice for an alleged gangrape and murder case involving a minor. Initiated by local organizations, the strike shut down daily life in the area. Police arrested four suspects after discovering the victim’s remains, highlighting ongoing efforts to resolve the case.

On Tuesday, Tikabali in Odisha's Kandhamal district witnessed a dawn-to-dusk bandh. The strike was a protest against the alleged gangrape and murder of a minor girl.

The bandh, led by local associations such as ‘Banik Sangha’, 'Nari Surakshya', ‘Mahila Mahasangha’, and ‘Kandhamal Pragati Mahasangha’, brought daily activities to a halt. Shops and schools remained closed as the community demanded justice.

The unrest followed the police's discovery of a charred skeleton, believed to be a 16-year-old girl, in a Ganjam district forest. Authorities have arrested four men suspected of involvement in the crime, with investigations ongoing.