Patna: The attack on the office of ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), in which one party activist was killed and four others were critically wounded, today (Apr 10, 2004) sparked off violent protest with angry party supporters descending on the streets burning tyres and blocking roads demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

The attack coincided with the visit of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who is scheduled to address a public meeting in the evening.

Unidentified gunmen fired indiscriminately at the RJD office at Gandhi Nagar under Agamkuan police station this morning, killing one person on the spot and injuring four others.

The injured were being treated at a nursing home where their condition was stated to be critical, police sources said.

As the news of the attack spread like wildfire, the ruling party supporters descended on the streets in large number, burnt tyres and disrupted vehicular traffic on the new by-pass road for several hours. They also damaged several private vehicles.

Hundreds of policemen with anti-riot vehicles were posted in the Kankerbagh and Agamkuan locality to maintain law and order.

Factional feud was stated to be the reason behind the attack on the RJD office, which was opened by its candidate for Patna Ramkripal Yadav yesterday (Apr 9, 2004) itself. Yadav is locked in bitter contest with Union Minister C P Thakur in Patna.

Raids were being conducted at various places to apprehend the gunmen.

Tension prevailed in Agamkuan police station area after the shoot-out.