Bhubaneswar, Jan. 28 -- Normal life was disrupted across Odisha on Wednesday as the Naba Nirman Krushak Sangathan (NNKS) observed an eight-hour statewide bandh, pressing for the fulfilment of three key demands related to agriculture and public utilities.

The farmers' body called the shutdown to protest alleged irregularities in paddy procurement, the imposition of hefty fines for pollution certificates, and what it described as arbitrary electricity tariff practices by Tata Power.

NNKS activists took to the streets in Bhubaneswar and several other parts of the state from 6 am, blocking major roads, burning tyres at some places and staging picketing, which led to widespread disruption of vehicular movement.

Despite the shutdown, essenti...