 "JD(U)'s 'Bihar bandh' on special status issue begins")
The JD(U)-sponsored 'Bihar bandh' today began on a peaceful note, protesting against the Centre's "discriminatory" attitude towards the state and ignoring its demand for special status.
JD(U) workers took to streets in the state capital and other parts of the state where they enforced shutdown of markets and business establishments and blocked traffic in support of their demand for grant of special status to Bihar.
Some bandh supporters burnt tyres on the road near the Patna University on Ashok Rajpath, Danapur and other parts of Patna to bring vehicular traffic to a grinding halt.
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The ruling party leaders and workers took out protest march on the streets and raised slogans against the Centre for its "discriminatory" atttitude towards Bihar.
The Chief Minister accompanied by hundreds of party leaders, ministers and workers, took out a march towards the Gandhi Maidan for a sit-in in front of Mahatma Gandhi's bust there.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made at the Gandhi Maidan and metal detecters put in place for checking the visitors as a precautionary measures, police officials said.
In the districts too, the bandh supporters came out on streets in large number and paralysed vehicular and railway traffic in support of their demand for grant of special status.
A report from Jehanabad said that the ruling JD(U) workers stopped Palamu Express in the district, while the protesters in Patna prevented Rajdhani Express and Danapur-Howrah express from moving towards its onward journey in Patna city.
A report from Jamui district said that the JD(U) workers stopped Durgawati Express in the district, while the bandh supporters brought Delhi-bound Shramjeevi express to grinding halt at Rajgir.
In Darbhanga, the bandh supporters stopped Darbhanga-New Delhi Sampark Kranti Express for over 90 minutes at the main railway station, while some JD(U) workers laid seize at the railway track at Jehanabad railway station where they burnt tyres to prevent movement of trains.
In Bhabhua, the bandh supporters blocked road at Mohania due to which scores of vehicles remained stranded.