Bihar bandh hits life

The dawn to dusk shutdown against price rise called by the RJD in Bihar on Thursday affected normal life, while over 5,500 bandh supporters were taken into custody by police.

Attendance in Central and State government offices was partially affected while in the State secretariat it was ’thin’. Most schools remained closed, officials said.

Private bus operators suspended services, while roads wore a deserted look in the state capital.

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.

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

Bandh supporters blocked national highways in Gopalganj, Chapra, Sitamarhi and Begusarai, reports reaching here said.

Among the 5,500 bandh supporters taken into custody were RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, his former chief minister wife Rabri Devi, former Union ministers Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Akhilesh Prasad Singh, State party chief Abdul Bari Siddiqui, SSP Vinit Vinayak said.

He said the arrested would be released in the evening.

The RJD chief and his wife led processions in the State capital to enforce bandh.

Mr. Prasad alleged that both the Central and State governments had failed to rein in prices of essential commodities.

Charging the ruling BJP with “protecting hoarders and black marketeers”, Mr. Prasad said this had prevented authorities from acting against them.

Mr. Prasad said he was in touch with leaders of various political parties, including SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, to launch a country-wide strike against the price rise.