Hundreds court arrest, mining hit in Orissa (Second Lead)

BHUBANESWAR - Hundreds of activists of non-Congress parties courted arrest in Orissa Monday during the nationwide shutdown against rising fuel prices that also hit mining operations and public transport services in the state.

Activists of the Communist Party of India (CPI), ruling Biju Janta Dal (BJD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) offered themselves for arrest during separate protests across the state.

“The number who courted arrest across Orissa would be at least 1,000,” Inspector General of Police Arun Sarangi told IANS.

Most of the mines in iron ore-rich Keonjhar and Sundergarh districts were shut by the operators themselves after workers were prevented by protesters from entering the mines.

“Most of the mines have been closed. The transportation of ores from the mines was also hit as trucks were not plying,” an official of the state mining department told IANS.

Similarly, operations at the state-run Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd (MCL) and most of the coal mines in Talcher coalfields in Angul district, some 170 km from here, were also affected, a company official said.

Road and rail services were hit in large parts of the state. Several trains ran late as protesters squatted on rail tracks and obstructed trains at railway stations.

Protest marches were held in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur, with demonstrators shouting slogans against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Hundreds of political activists protested in front of central government organisations as well.

Although the government had not ordered the closure of schools and colleges, most saw thin attendance. The Biju Patnaik University of Technology and the Utkal University postponed their exams.

Shops and small businesses were closed across the state, but operations were normal in Nalco and Paradip ports.

In Orissa, the ruling BJD joined hands with non-Congress opposition parties to make the strike a success.

The central government has ended government curbs on petroleum pricing and hiked the prices of diesel, kerosene and cooking gas. The price of diesel went up by Rs.2 a litre, kerosene by Rs.3 a litre, petrol by Rs.3.50 a litre, and cooking gas by Rs.35 per cylinder.