Date:04/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/04/stories/2003010405900100.htm

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Bihar bandh turns violent

By K. Balchand

Police controlling protesters during the Bihar bandh in Patna on Friday. — Photo: Ranjeet Kumar

PATNA Jan. 3. The dawn-to-dusk Bihar bandh, called by the Opposition parties today to protest the killing of three youths by some policemen in a `fake encounter' last week, was marred by violence and burning of vehicles at several places.

At least 50 persons, including policemen, were injured in clashes between National Democratic Alliance activists and those from the Rashtriya Janata Dal, who opposed the bandh.

The bandh was near-total with traffic coming to a halt and shops downing shutters. The functioning of business establishments and Government offices was badly hit due to low attendance.

Government offices and vehicles were targeted by the rioters and police opened fire in the air at many points to disperse them. As train services were suspended passengers were stranded at various railway stations in the State.

At the Ashiana Nagar locality, where the three youths were "gunned down" at a telephone booth last week, police fired at least 50 tear gas shells and 20 rounds in the air after the rioters set fire to the already-razed Sammelan Market complex and a police jeep and attacked mediapersons.

Police rounded up some troublemakers. As the bus transporting those arrested reached the Dak Bungalow, the rioters fought with the police, got down from the bus and set fire to it.

Police jeeps were set afire in Patna city and in Ara, Bhojpur district, six police personnel were injured in similar incidents. There were reports of arson from Government buildings such as the PWD office and the BISWAS Board in Patna, the Circuit House in Ara and the District Superintendent Education Office in Motihari.

A crowd laid siege to the Collectorate complex in Saharsa, and vandalism was reported from the SBI branch in Chapra and the Cooperative Bank in Nawada.

RJD activists took to the streets opposing the bandh and in the resultant clashes, 16 persons were injured, including the Leader of the Opposition, S.K. Modi. Police rounded up around 3,000 bandh supporters, including NDA and Left party leaders.

NDA leaders claimed the bandh was a success and charged the police with trying to prevent their agitation in a "brutal manner".

The NDA has decided to stage a statewide-dharna tomorrow while the CPI (ML) will burn an effigy of the State Government and demand the resignation of the Chief Minister, Rabri Devi.

The RJD president, Laloo Prasad Yadav, claimed that the bandh "was a total flop" and that the people had prevented the NDA from "repeating Godhra in Bihar".

His party would submit a memorandum to the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, against the manner in which the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, "misused defence aircraft to come here and vitiate the atmosphere". Mr. Yadav criticised the Railways for suspending train services and charged that it was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the State.

The Trinamool Congress MP, Dinesh Trivedi, who was travelling by the Rajdhani Express, found himself stranded.

"They should not have allowed the Rajdhani Express to begin its journey. We were not told that the trains would be stopped at the stroke of six."

Meanwhile, the suspended officer-in-charge of the Shastrinagar police station, Shamsi Alam, was assaulted by prisoners at the Beur Central Jail, where he was lodged on Thursday.