Violence mars Bihar bandh

By K. Balchand

PATNA, OCT. 5. The NDA-sponsored Bihar bandh called to demand the resignation of the Chief Minister, Ms. Rabri Devi, and to protest the recent police firing in Muzaffarpur evoked a mixed response today.

The bandh passed off peacefully except for stray incidents of violence. While shops remained closed, traffic was partially affected. Train services were disrupted in Patna, Arrah, Bhagalpur and Warsaliganj. The National Highway was blocked at Begusarai. A mob locked the west cabin of Sasaram station and disrupted movement of trains.

Attendance in State and Central Government offices was affected, while all private schools had declared a holiday as a precautionary measure.

Police lathicharged the bandh supporters in Bhagalpur and rounded up over 5000. The Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Mr. S.K. Modi, the State BJP president, Mr. Nandkishore Yadav, his Samata Party counterpart, Mr. Raghunath Jha, were detained, but released later.

The bandh supporters roughed up mediapersons. The electronic media boycotted a press conference of the NDA. In Patna, the vehicle of a reporter was damaged by bandh supporters who also beat up a cameraman of a TV news programme, smashed his equipment and damaged a car belonging to a news agency.

The bandh was total in Muzaffarpur where a boy was kidnapped and killed triggering violence leading to police firing and curfew last month. The former Chief Minister and RJD president, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, described the bandh as a flop and maintained that the people had rejected the bandh call.

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