Farmers Movement Archive

Oppn-sponsored Bihar bandh evokes mixed response

PATNA: The five-hour Bihar bandh call given by the RJD and supported by other opposition parties against “assault” on MLAs by police personnel evoked mixed response on Friday. The bandh also coincided with the Bharat bandh call given by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) against the three farm laws enacted by the Centre recently. The 9am to 2pm Bihar bandh had the support of the RJD, Congress, CPI(ML), CPI and CPM, while workers of the Jantantrik Adhikar Party-Loktantrik (JAP-L) led by former MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav indulged in violence at Patna. Vehicles were damaged at some places in the state capital. The RJD and CPI(ML) supporters burned tyres on the national highways and in the towns to disrupt vehicular movement. Banks and government offices functioned as usual. Water resources department minister Sanjay Kumar Jha, who was going to Darbhanga from Patna in the morning, was trapped in the jam near Bhagwanpur in Vaishali district as the bandh supporters had blocked the road. The Bihar bandh call had been given against the “misbehaviour” of police personnel with women MLAs during the passage of the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill on March 23. Leader of opposition in state assembly Tejashwi Prasad Yadav could not participate in the bandh as he was in mourning due to the death of his elder uncle Mahavir Prasad Yadav. In Nalanda, RJD and Left workers blocked roads at several important points. Police had to resort to use minor force to clear road blockade near Biharsharif Hospital Mor. Nalanda SP Hari Prasath himself led a police team to clear Biharsharif-Rajgir road near Peepaltal village under Noorsarai. In Madhepura, big business establishments remained closed and commercial vehicles were off the roads. The vehicular movement was disrupted on NH-106 and 107. In Gaya, shops remained open in main market areas, including K P Road, Tekari Road and G B Road. In the rural areas, vehicular movement was affected in the first half but became normal as the day progressed. In Purnia, more than 200 workers belonging to JAP (L), Congress, RJD and Left parties approached forcibly downed shutters of several business establishments. Traffic movement remained disrupted on NH-31 for several hours. The bandh passed off peacefully in Sitamarhi. The RJD supporters took out a protest march in the town and blocked some roads, including Kargil bypass. In Bagaha, CPI(ML) workers took out a march. Vehicular movement was paralyzed on NH-27 for nearly two hours. In Chhapra, the bandh supporters carried the effigies of PM Narendra Modi and CM Nitish Kumar on the streets and later burned them at Rajendra roundabout. In Bhagalpur, shops and other commercial establishments in the main market areas in the town downed their shutters, as the bandh supporters went around asking businessmen and traders to support their cause. In Nawada, Mahagathbandhan leaders and workers blocked the Prajatantra Chowk adjacent to Nawada collectorate. In Begusarai, workers of RJD and CPI (ML) disrupted traffic on NH-31 and NH-28 for over two hours. Bandh supporters blocked the road between Sahebpur Kamal and Barauni Zero mile on NH-31. (With inputs from Farrukh Nadim, D N Saha, Alok Kumar, Sanjeev Mishra, S K Singh, Tirthraj Kushwaha, H K Verma, Kumar Rajesh, S B Sinha and Rajiv Kumar)

The Times of India

2021-03-27

Patna