Patna, Aug 21: The dawn-to-dusk state-wide bandh called by CPI-ML (Liberation) protesting alleged "violation of democratic rights" and "patronisation of criminals by the state administration" began this morning amid tight security. The bandh was peaceful with no untoward incident reported from anywhere across the state, official sources said here.
In the state capital, shops opened in residential areas as usual and movement of vehicular traffic remained thin, they said, adding schools functioned as on any other day in most of the areas. Security measures have been tightened to protect properties of Central and state governments, particularly the railways, the sources said. Police Superintendents in all the districts have been instructed to deploy security personnel at vital points after consulting the district magistrates.
The CPI and several organisations have extended support to the bandh. The bandh has also been called to protest award of life imprisonment to 13 CPI-ML activists under Pota, besides institution of cases against activists of its frontal organisations for showing black flags to Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani during his visit to Darbhanga recently. Bureau Report