Bharat Bandh evokes huge response in Bhojpur

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : The Bharat Bandh called by different organisation including Khsatriya Mahasabha, Rajput Samaj Samiti, Sarpanch Sangh, Rashtriya Jan Aarankshan, Rajput Adhikar Manch, and Sawarn Samaj in support of the Supreme Court ruling on the SC/ST Act and also in protest against caste based reservation evoked widespread response in Bhojpur district on April 10, 2018. Bandh suppoters and those supporting reservation clashed at Sri Tola and about 24 rounds were fired by the rival groups though no casualty was reported.

Alhough no major political parties or social organizations supported the bandh call, yet the bandh crippled Ara, headquarters of Bhojpur district, since early morning and a large number of people were seen stranded on the roads for hours as train and buse services remained affected.

Ara Sadar SDO Arun Prakash had to face the wrath of bandh supporters when he along with police force went to the Eastern railway crossing to remove blockade. The bandh supporters pelted the SDO and policemen with stones in which the SDO and half a dozen police personnel were injured. After the incident, section 144 CrPC has been imposed in Ara, said the SDO.

Thousands of bandh supporters took out processions from different parts of Bhojpur district and forced the businessmen and traders to down their shutters. Shops at Ara and other parts of Bhojpur district remained closed till afternoon. Though police were deputed at all vantage and  important roundabouts like Badi Mathia, Shivganj, Pakari, Katira, New Policeline, Old Policeline, Mahavir Tola, Sheesh Mahal Chowk, Aranya Devi, Station road and others, the protesters ensured traffic crawled.

Almost all schools, business establishments, petrol pumps, cinema halls from Jail road to Gopali Chowk, considered the heart of town, remained closed. Attendance in government offices and courts were thin and heavy vehicles remained road though light vehicles like motorcycles, three wheelers were seen plying on some roads.

The bandh supporters reached Ara and Karisath railway stations in processions and squatted on rail tracks since morning stopping Patna-Buxar passenger at Ara railway station and Buxar-Patna passenger at Krisath railway station under Danapur division of East Central Railway (ECR), Hajipur, paralysing movements of trains for about six hours. Police had to resort to lathicharge at Ara railway station to disperse the protestors and restore movement of trains.

The bandh supporters also blocked roads by putting hurdles, burning tyres at Shivganj, Ahirpurva, Sapna Cinema Mor, East railway crossing, Badi Mathia Mor, Karman Tola, Chandawa, Gopali Chowk, Dharahara, station road, Tribuani Kothi tri-junction, Shaheed Bhawan roundabout, Dhobi ghatawa, Anaith besides Ara-Sahar, Ara-Mohania, Ara-Sandesh, Ara-Barahara, Ara-Buxar NH and other places in the district.