Stray violence marks Bihar bandh

PATNA, AUG. 21. Stray violence and disruption of rail traffic today marred the 12-hour Bihar bandh called by the NDA to demand the resignation of the Bihar Chief Minister, Ms. Rabri Devi, as police rounded up 4,000 people including the alliance's top State leadership during the shutdown that affected normal life across the State.

Police lobbed teargas shells near the State Legislative complex to disperse those who were trying to break the cordon to force their way into the prohibited area, official sources said.

Windscreens of a few private vehicles were smashed by the agitators and tyres of auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws were deflated. Shops, business establishments and educational institutions were closed. Attendance in offices was thin. Private buses went off the road but State-run buses ran with security escorts.

Top State NDA leaders including the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Sushil Kumar Modi, the State BJP president, Mr. Nandkishore Yadav, the Samata Party chief, Mr. Raghunath Jha and JD(U) president, Mr. Ramjivan Singh, were detained, IG (Operations), Mr. Neelmani said.

In Buxar, a group of BJP supporters trying to forcibly enforce the bandh were lathicharged.

The NDA described the bandh as ``extraordinarily'' successful and said it had proved that people were frustrated with the Rabri Devi Government's anti-Dalit, anti-people and anti-development policies.

- PTI, UNI

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