Nawada (Bihar): The dawn-to-dusk Nawada bandh called by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to protest against February 16 killing of seven people, including the father of a Bihar Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) and a relative of Jharkhand Minister, evoked total response on February 17, paralysing normal life in the Central Bihar district town.

All shops in Nawada town and Warsaliganj police area downed their shutters and vehicular traffic went off the roads while schools and colleges too were closed.

Official sources said the district administration ordered suspension of train services on Kiul-Nawada section of East Central Railway for the second consecutive day as a precautionary measure.

Police patrolling was intensified in Nawada and adjoining districts. Three companies of Bihar Military Police (BMP) and one unit of Special Task Force (STF) had been deployed in the district, where all the police stations have been put on maximum alert.

Inspector general of police, Patna zone A C Verma, deputy inspector general (DIG) Ravindra Kumar, besides other top police officials were camping at Nawada to ensure law and order as tension ran high in the district following the killing.

Kailash Singh, father of independent MLA from Warsaliganj, Aruna Devi, and Nunulal Singh, uncle of Jharkhand Mines Minister Ravindra Rai and five others were killed by Ashok Mahato gang on February 16. The state government has already shifted Nawada superintendent of police (SP) Braj Behari Prasad and posted commandant of BMP-13, Bachhu Singh Meena in his place after the killing.

PTI