Date:07/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/07/stories/2008080754991400.htm

National

Bihar students’ agitation spreads

Special Correspondent

PATNA: The students’ agitation in Bihar, urging the State government to break the deadlock with the striking university staff, spread to districts, affecting both rail and road traffic on Wednesday.

Members of a student body entered the Rajendra Nagar Terminal here and detained trains for several hours on the Howrah-Delhi route protesting the police action against them on Tuesday and the “callousness” of the Nitish Kumar government in not entering into a dialogue with the striking employees, thereby crippling activities in nine universities and 250 constituent colleges for well over six weeks. The police removed the students.

Black day

Members of the Akhil Bharthiya Vidyarthi Parishad observed a black day, taking out protest marches and burning effigies of the Chief Minister. They demanded the dismissal of Education Minister Hari Narain Singh, who, they alleged, was responsible for the police lathi-charge in which many students were injured.

In Begusarai, students blocked National Highway 31 for several hours. The Rashtriya Janata Dal’s student wing observed a fast and held mock classes by the roadside.