Kumar Rajiv Nayan
Ara : The Bihar bandh call given by the RJD in protest against ban on mining of sand, crushing of stonechips for the last six months in the state evoked mixed response at Ara and other parts of Bhojpur district. Almost all the business establishments and private schools were closed and attendance in government offices and courts was also thin. Even petrol pumps remained closed for about two hours.
The bandh supporters forced the traders and businessmen to down their shutters. They also blocked Ara-Patna, Ara-Sasaram, Ara-Mohania main roads at several places and also at all the 14 block headquarters in Bhojpur district. They burnt tyres on the roads raising slogans against the state government and CM Nitish Kumar for banning Sand mining for the last six months rendering a large number of daily wage earners and labourers and businessmen jobless. The bandh supporters did not allow a single vehicle even an ambulance to play on the road since morning till afternoon.