Opposition Leaders Arrested during Bihar Bandh
Patna: Nov. 2, 2007
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Opposition Leaders Arrested during Bihar Bandh
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Photo by Shashi Uttam |
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The day-long Bihar bandh sponsored by the opposition parties in Bihar in protest against the attack on news reporters by the Janata Dal (U) legislator Anant Singh resulted in the arrest of former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, and a number of other Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), and CPI-ML leaders.
Demanding immediate resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on moral grounds, Rabri Devi and other protestors also asked for death penalty for Anant Singh who is accused of killing and dumping the body of one Reshma Khatoon.
Thousands of protestors carrying their party banners and flags marched through the roads of Patna and burnt the effigies of the Chief Minister and Anant Singh and accused the government of sheltering criminals and unleashing a reign of terror, a charge usually hurled towards the Lalu-Rabri government during the RJD rule.
While the RJD leaders described the bandh as total and a great success, the NDA leaders characterized the event as 'unnecessary' and completely 'uncalled for'.
Shops on Dak Bungalow Road, Bailey Road, and Boring Road remained closed to avoid any mob wrath though in other areas the bandh had moderate effect with life by and large remaining unaffected.
Outside Patna, the bandh also evoked mixed response though the traffic on national highways passing through Bihar remained sparse in anticipation of violence that are usually the hallmark of such rallies based on emotional outburst.
Besides Rabri Devi, others who court arrested themselves included LJP leader Surajbhan Singh and Sanjay Singh, RJD state president Abdul Bari Siddiqui, MLA Gajendra Singh, and CPI-ML leader K. D. Yadav.
All the detainees were later released in the evening.
Protestors in Ara detained Sampoorna Kranti Express for a couple of hours by blocking the railway tracks.
In Hajipur, RJD activists blocked the Gandhi Setu for more than 3 hours disrupting the traffic and damaging some small vehicles. At least 50 people were arrested in Vaishali district.
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