Nitish Kumar condemns manhandling of Bihari students in Pune

Patna, May 21 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today condemned the ''ill-treatment'' meted out to non-Marathi students in Pune's Railway Recruitment Board examination yesterday and sought ''immediate intervention'' of the Central and state government to prevent their recurrence in future.

Expressing deep concern over the increasing incidents of assault on the people from Bihar, Mr Kumar, in separate letters to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and his Maharashtra counterpart Vilasrao Deshmukh, said the Biharis had contributed a lot in the progress of Maharashtra.

''Biharis are part and parcel of daily life in Pune, therefore it is the responsibilty of the state government to ensure their security,'' Mr Kumar stated in his letter.

He also demanded stern action against all anti-socials who were involded in yesterday's attack, ''no matter to which party they belong.'' UNI RH-ABA DPM AKP1457