Berhampur, March 20:Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia and his supporters were on Friday night prevented from entering the communally sensitive Kandhamal district of Orissa by the authorities.
They were stopped at Charichhak near the border of the Boudh and Kandhamal districts at around 10.30 p.m. In protest, Mr. Togadia and his supporters staged a dharna on the spot.
Meanwhile, the VHP has given a bandh call in Kandhamal district against the decision of the administration. Public transport, schools and colleges will be exempt from the 12-hour bandh, said Priyanath Sharma, VHP joint secretary.
Mr. Togadia is on a tour of Orissa since Thursday. He was on his way to Kandhamal after attending a public meeting at Bargarh. According to SP Praveen Kumar, the administration had three days back issued a notification banning the entry of Mr. Togadia and three other VHP leaders.
The administration had taken the decision in view of the fragile peace in the district, returning to normality after the communal violence of 2008, in which at least 38 persons had lost their lives.
As per schedule, Mr. Togadia was to spend the night at Kandhamal district headquarters, Phulbani. He was to attend a meeting of VHP leaders on Saturday morning before departing for Bhanjanagar in Ganjam district.
—-Agencies