Shutdown against hike in fuel prices hits normal life in Bihar

Patna: Normal life in Bihar was affected on Monday due to a nationwide strike called by the Congress to protest against the rising fuel prices.

The shutdown was supported by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Left Parties, Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Jan Adhikar Party of Pappu Yadav.

Hundreds of Congress and other opposition parties leaders and workers took to the streets since early Monday in different parts of Bihar, with party flags and banners of different colours in their hands.

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They clashed with police at several places while enforcing the shutdown.

Yadav's party workers damaged dozens of four wheelers, buses and two wheelers in Patna. Congress leaders have distanced themslves from this act of vandalism.

Over a dozen long route express and passenger trains were stopped at Patna, Gaya, Bhojpur, Jehanabad, Khagaria, Madhubani, Sagarsa, Darbhanga, Banka, Bhagalpur, Sheikhpura and Muzaffarpur railway stations.

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The shutdown supporters blocked national and state highways, disrupted rail and road traffic for hours and stranded thousands of passengers at different railway stations and bus stands.

At several places, the activists were seen burning tyres on the roads.

They also raised slogans against the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Schools and colleges remained closed across the state. Markets and business centres were also closed.

Additional security personnel have been deployed all across the state to maintain law and order.

IANS