Patna, Aug 19: The dawn-to-dusk Bihar bandh called by the VHP protesting recent action of state government to deport senior leaders Praveen Togadia and Acharya Giriraj Kishore on their arrival here began on a peaceful note this morning amid tight security. Vehicular traffic movement was thin while shops in residential areas here opened as usual, official sources said.

An alert has been sounded across the state and patrolling has also been intensified in view of the bandh, they said, adding no untoward incident was reported. All the police stations were put on maximum alert while special attention was being given to protect vital installations, including properties of the state government.

Schools and colleges remained closed on account of Janmasthami festival. While Togadia was bundled off to Delhi soon after his arrival to participate in an Independence Day programme in the communally sensitive Phulwarisharif area on August 15, Kishore was externed when he arrived to attend a VHP workers' training camp in Muzaffarpur the day after.

The VHP has alleged the state government by its action of deporting the Parishad's international general secretary Togadia and senior international vice-president Kishore encroached upon their fundamental rights as citizens of the country to propagate their religion.

Bureau Report