Title - Bihar bandh: 12 trains halted, National Highway routes blocked

Patna: Protesting against the recent incidents of violence in Madhubani after the murder of a student there, workers of Opposition parties, the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), organised a Bihar bandh on Monday and halted 12 trains and blocked several National Highway routes across the state. According to sources, the protesters stopped the Toofan Express and the Garib Rath at the Arrah station. Several passenger trains were stranded at Jahanabad. Some demonstrators also pelted stones at the Sharamjivi Express in Nalanda. The bandh is said to be more effective in areas such as Madhubani, Darbhanga, Arrah and Jahanabad. While traffic inside Patna city was said to be normal, vehicular movement on the National Highways was affected. Schools, colleges and shopping complexes remained shut in Patna.The protesters are demanding a CBI investigation into the Madhubani violence where a youth was killed and several others injured amidst police firing. During a high level meeting on Sunday, many districts including Bhojpur, had been put on high alert to prevent any untoward incident.Adeeb Rizvi, district president of Bhojpur, said, "There is no democracy. Today, the RJD and other parties have announced Bihar Bandh. It is being done to make him realise that there is no law and order. Police is also not responsible. In many areas, police does what it wants to."