No major violence in Bihar on second day as trains remain cancelled

Patna, Oct 23 (UNI) Barring a major incident of vandalism at the Motihari railway station in north Bihar today by agitated students, forcing the authorities to clamp prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC in the town, the overall situation in the state remained under control.

Additional Director General of Police Anil Sinha appealing to remain calm, urged the students not to resort to any further violence.

He also warned them that stern action would be taken in case of any violation.

Earlier, official sources quoting East Champaran District Magistrate Narmadeswar Lal said a mob of about 3,000 students ransacked the Motihari Railway junction, set if afire partially and looted the cash box and damaged the ticket counters. They also set abaze a police jeep and severely damaged a fire tender preventing it from dousing the fire.

Finding that the situation was fast going out of control the police resorted to a mild lathi charge to ward off the students.

As many as 59 students were also taken into custody.

Later the authorities imposed the prohibitory orders and deployed CRPF to prevent any further violence, the sources said adding that the situation in the town was tense but under control.

This apart a number of incidents of violence, vandalism and blockades came from several other places across the state forcing the East Central Railway(ECR)authorites to suspend its services in the state for the second consecutive day today.

Reports of student vandalism came from Biharshariff, Bakhtiarpur, Lakhisarai and at Dima Halt near Naudaul stations where agitated students damaged railway property and protested against the attacks on Biharis in Maharashtra.

As a result a number of long distance and local trains which resumed journeys today after long delays had to be stranded again.

Soon the ECR announced the decision to suspend its services for the day. They might resume the services later tonight, officials said.

Meanwhile,an all party meeting here tonight unanimously decided to send a delegation to the Prime Minister in New Delhi to seek his intervention to end unprovoked attacks on Biharis in Maharashtra and take steps to ensure their safety and security.

EDS picking up suitably from related series.

UNI ABA-RS KK RN2123