Bandh total on Laloo’s turf, partial elsewhere

It was marked by skirmishes between police and RJD supporters and minor dislocation of railway traffic.

Removal of fish plates and pandrol clips led to disruption of railway traffic near Pandarak and Mokama railway stations in Patna district, as tampering with telecommunication system interfered with train movements on Saharsa-Mansi and Saharsa-Supaul sections, railway sources said.

Dharnas on tracks delayed movement of a few trains in Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Samastipur and Koderma districts.

Private operators suspended their bus services across the state as “a precautionary measure.”

Police said the dismissed chief minister and her husband besides several former ministers were among those arrested and released later in the evening.

Atmosphere in the state capital was surcharged during the bandh as RJD supporters led by Laloo Prasad Yadav and Rabri devi made determined efforts to break the police cordon in front of Raj Bhavan before their arrest.

Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari told reporters the bandh was “a flop in absence of popular support” but Yadav said it was “a grand success”.

Bhandari said the “poor response shows that people by and large have welcomed imposition of President’s Rule.”

“The alert administration thwarted attempts to disrupt normal life and everything passed off peacefully,” said the governor congratulating the people on “rejecting the call showing full patience and disenchantment with the old regime.”

RJD president Laloo Yadav claimed grand success of the bandh while Janata Dal and BJP-Samata combine termed it as “a poor show.”