ASSEMBLY POLL '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTIONS '98
ARCHIVES

Laloo Yadav threatens violence

Rashtriya Janata Dal president Laloo Prasad Yadav and former chief minister Rabri Devi were among 500 activists arrested in Patna during the dawn-to-dusk 'Bihar bandh' (general strike) to protest against the imposition of President's rule.

Police caned protestors at several places in the state capital, injuring 10 persons, including RJD politicians Mohammad Nematullah, Uday Narain Chowdhury, Shyam Rajak, Ram Kripal Yadav and Dev Muni Yadav.

Laloo Prasad and his wife Rabri Devi were taken into custody near Raj Bhawan.

Rabri Devi was sent to the B S College camp jail, Danapur, while Yadav was taken to the Kotwali police station.

Talking to reporters before police took him into custody, Yadav accused Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari of launching "a reign of terror".

He said police used their batons "without provocation" on the "peaceful" RJD workers and claimed that the district authorities were creating tension.

The RJD chief alleged that the police beat up several of his party's workers after taking them into custody, and warned the Centre of violence if the "high-handedness" continues.

Supporters of the strike ran helter-skelter when the Rapid Action Force and the Central Reserve Police Force made a lathi-charge near the Dak Bungalow roundabout in Patna.

In Darbhanga, RJD supporters set two buses afire.

Railway services in Danapur section of the Eastern Railway remained by and large normal except for some incidents of removal of track clips near Mokama and Dumaraon.

In Jamshedpur, business establishments and educational institutions remained open amid tight security. Banks and other financial institutions also worked normally while bus and train services were normal.

Police arrested 100 supporters of the strike, including East Singhbhum district RJD chief Onkarnath Jaiswal and politician Radhe Prasad Yadav when they tried to enforce the bandh in Bistupur and Sakchi areas.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
11 killed as state bandh begins

RELATED REPORTS:
Congress, Mulayam attack President's rule
Sonia's visit fails to impress Narayanpur menfolk

Tell us what you think of this report