RJD MP hurt as strike paralyses Bihar

Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Ram Kripal Yadav was injured when Rapid Action Force jawans caned party supporters at Patna Junction.

Yadav and his men tried to stop trains on Friday, when a statewide strike was called to protest against former chief minister Laloo Prasad Yadav's arrest in the Rs 9.5 billion fodder scam.

The MP was rushed to the Patna medical college hospital while his party workers lay siege to all vulnerable points in the state, paralysing road and rail communication in the state. Blocking of rail tracks was reported from Arrah, Bihta, Mokama, Rarh, Parsa bazar, Jehanabad and Patna Junction, officials said.

Sources said RJD activists, equipped with traditional weapons, were seen patrolling all the main thoroughfares of Patna and attacking vehicles. They did not even spare cyclists and ransacked more than 60 vehicles in different parts of the state capital.

All business establishments and markets were closed while schools and colleges announced a holiday. Banks and the state secretariat reported thin attendance.

Tension gripped some areas as the RJD staged violent protests even as the RAF and other paramilitary forces reportedly remained silent spectators. Sources said reports of attacks on mediapersons and lawyers were also received in the state capital.

Nearly 530 RJD activists were arrested for obstructing vehicular in Hajipur.

The Bihar strike also caught the attention of the Lok Sabha with several non-RJD members complaining of a reign of terror in the state streets.

Nitish Kumar (Samata Party), Rajesh Ranjan Pappu Yadav (Samajwadi Party) and many others raised the matter during Zero Hour.

Nitish Kumar said cane-wielding people were creating terror in Patna and other places.

Meanwhile, former state animal husbandry minister Bhola Ram Toofani on Friday surrendered before the designated CBI court in connection with the fodder scam. The former minister was reported absconding on Thursday. Toofani was later taken to the Beur jail.