Bihar bandh turns violent, students arrested

Patna, Oct 25: Agitated students resorted to largescale violence in various parts of Bihar as the CPI-ML sponsorted 24-hour statewide bandh evoked partial response on Saturday, Oct 25.

Official reports reaching here said about 1000 angry students, shouting anti-MNS slagans, ransacked the Darbhanga Railway station at around 1100 hours and damaged the station master's office, ticket counters and platform sheds. They also tried to set afire railway property but timely intervention by police prevented them from doing do. The police also resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the students as they pelted them with stones. Ten students were taken into custody on charge of resorting to violence and damaging public property. Four students were also reportedly injured in the violence.

Earlier,at Donar Chawk the students prevented the Darbhanga-New Delhi 'Samparkh Kranti express' from proceeding further.

Reports from Betiah in West Champaran district said the Delhi-Muzaffarpur 'Saptkanti express' was attacked and stoned by angry students as it reached Narkatiaganj station,forcing the police to ward them off by useing lathis.However,none was injured in the incident.

At Sekhpura,about 40 km from here,agitated students vandalised the Palia station and caused huge damage to railway property.The situation was, however,brought under control by the police who resorted to lathicharge. Five students were also arrested in this connection.

However, the situation in Patna and elsewhere was peaceful so far. More than 10,000 policemen and other security personnel had been deployed across the state as a preventive measure. Barring the state capital, where the bandh had almost no effect, shops, business establishments and educational institutions in most parts of Bihar largely remained closed.

Though vehicles were plying normally here,these were less in number in most of the other districts, official sources said, adding that train and air services also remained unaffected so far.

Today's bandh,called by the All India Students Association(AISA), the students wing of the CPI-ML,despite the withdrawal of support by the students wings of JD(U),RJD,LJP and the Congress yesterday,was in protest against unprovoked attacks on north Indians,particularly Biharis,in Maharashtra and the Centre's alleged failure to initiate action against MNS chief Raj Thackeray in this regard.

UNI