Shutdown Affects Norma Life in Bihar, 5,500 Supporters Arrested

During a day-long bandh against inflation called by RJD in Bihar, as many as 5,500 bandh supporters were taken into custody, reported PTI.

The dawn to dust shut down affected normal life, though attendance in central and state government offices was only partially affected while in the state secretariat it was ‘thin’. Most schools remained closed, said report quoting officials.

Roads wore deserted look in the state capital as private bus operators suspended services, report said.

Report said that shops and other business establishments in the main markets at Frazer Road, Ashok Raj Path, Maurya Lok complex, Chandani Chowk, Boring Road, Patliputra, Nalla Road and Kankerbagh areas were shut.

Also, most shops in the main markets in Jehanabad, Bhagalpur, Gaya, Gopalganj, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Begusarai, Samastipur, Chapra, Darbhanga and Saharsa towns were closed.

Report said that bandh supporters blocked national highways in Gopalganj, Chapra, Sitamarhi and Begusarai.

Nearly 5,500 bandh supporters were arrested, and among them were RJD chief Lalu Prasad, his former chief minister wife Rabri Devi, former Union ministers Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, state party chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui, said report citing SSP Vinit Vinayak.

Vinayak was quoted as saying that those arrested would be set free in the evening.