Anti-CAA bandh called by RJD rocks Bihar; rail, road traffic disrupted

Thousands of RJD supporters fanned out across Bihar on Saturday (December 21), disrupting rail and road traffic while trying to enforce a statewide shutdown in protest against the new citizenship law and the proposed NRC.

In the state capital, hundreds of party supporters – among whom children could also be seen – stormed railway stations and bus stands carrying sticks and party flags but they were chased away by police personnel.

In Nawada, bandh supporters staged a demonstration on national highway 31 where they burnt tires on the road causing disruption in the movement of vehicles while agitators protested at Zero Mile Chowk in Muzaffarpur.

There were reports of bandh supporters squatting on railway tracks in Araria and East Champaran districts.

Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Jitendra Kumar said, “Adequate forces have been deployed in all districts of the state and officials concerned were asked to deal sternly with anyone trying to foment trouble.”

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The Bihar bandh called by the main opposition party comes barely two days after a statewide shutdown was organised by the Left parties. The RJD, after initially scheduling the bandh on December 22, had advanced the shutdown by a day in view of police recruitment tests on Sunday.

On Friday night, RJD activists led by the leader of the opposition Tejashwi Yadav had taken out a march in the city holding aloft burning torches to garner support for the bandh, which they termed as “an attempt to save the Constitution from the assaults by the Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre.”

“It will be a peaceful protest. But if the state police indulges in any high-handedness, there would be a backlash” Yadav had said.

The situation in West Bengal however, was peaceful with no incident of violence over the amended Citizenship Act reported so far on Saturday, police said.

According to sources, the police have stepped up vigil and beefed up security arrangements in various parts of the state in order to avoid any untoward incident.

The state had witnessed violence and arson from December 13 to 17 during protests against the new citizenship law.

Senior IPS officers of Kolkata police on Friday met community leaders and urged them to maintain peace.

The West Bengal BJP is scheduled to conduct rallies and marches in the city and various parts of the state in support of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

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The students’ wing of CPI(M)- SFI- will conduct a march to BJP office against the new citizenship law.

More than 600 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in arson and violence in the state.

(With input from agencies.)