India, July 17 -- A 12-hour bandh, jointly called by the Congress and seven other opposition parties-CPI, CPM, Forward Bloc, CPI(ML), NCP, RJD, and Samajwadi Party-brought daily life to a standstill across multiple districts of Odisha on Thursday.

The protesters demanded justice for the 20-year-old student of Fakir Mohan Autonomous College, Balasore, who died of self-immolation in protest against alleged sexual harassment by a professor.

The shutdown disrupted transport and essential services, with major highways and railway stations blocked. In Bhubaneswar, Congress workers obstructed traffic on NH-16, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. Similar blockades occurred at Jaraka Chhak in Jajpur, Sundargarh, Koraput (NH-26), and Sambalpur...