The demolition of religious structures on encroached Government land undertaken by the administration has encountered its first major challenge with the City observing a total shutdown in protest on Thursday.

The drive launched by the administration on Wednesday had to be suspended as normal life came to a standstill due to the bandh called by the Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee, puja committees and the Matha Mandir Surakhya Parishad seeking a review of the decision to raze the temples and other religious structures.

The administration on Wednesday had demolished three temples and the Bhakti Vedanta Ashram of Iskcon at Bidyadharpur under CDA. Though the administration had much earlier announced to demolish the unauthorised religious structures as per the orders of the Orissa High Court from May 1, the actual implementation fuelled tension and protests.

Puja committees and the Shanti Committee issuing call for a bandh, the entire city came to a grinding halt. Markets, shops and commercial establishments were closed through the day as protestors staged rallies and dharnas at different places.

Demonstrations were staged at Khan Nagar, Chandi Mandir square, High Court Square, Badambadi and Buxi Bazaar while the office of the Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Central) became the centre of all protest activities. Groups of protestors staged dharnas in front of RDC office demanding suspension of demolition drive.

The strike posed serious problems for the commuters and passengers as the protestors forced a halt in the bus services. At many places on the Link Road, buses and autorickshaws were stopped and passengers forced to get down. Vehicular traffic on the busy NH-5 was also disrupted for over half an hour due to road blockade.

“The demolition of temples has hurt religious sentiments of people of the city. The structures should not have been allowed to be constructed in first place. But when they have come up and deities are being worshiped by thousands of devotees, how can they be razed. We will continue with protests until the decision is reviewed,” secretary of Cuttack Mahanagar Shanti Committee Bhikari Das said.

Political parties too jumped into the swell with leaders cutting across partylines sharing stage at the protests. Former Minister and BJP leader Samir Dey, former Mayor Nibedita Pradhan and City Congress president Md Mokim led rallies and dharnas at different places.

The administration, however, continues to be unperturbed by developments and is ready to resume it on Friday. “Additional security arrangements would be made if required”, DCP Praveen Kumar said. Meanwhile, a batch of writ petitions was filed in the Orissa High Court by individual appellants praying for a halt to demolition drive. The Division Bench of Justice MM Das and Justice I Mohanty has posted the hearing on the petitions to Tuesday.