Tuesday, May 24 2005 21:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Over 1100 National Democratic Alliance (NDA) supporters were arrested even as the dawn-to-dusk Bihar bandh called to protest against the dissolution of the State Assembly and also to press for recall of Governor Buta Singh, was today (May 24, 2005) "totally peaceful", State Home Secretary A K Biswas said.

Talking to reporters, Biswas said more than 1100 bandh supporters were taken into custody while trying to enforce the call violating the prohibitory orders under section 144 CRPC.

He said that the District Magistrates and police superintendents had been asked to continue the prohibitory orders till the situation normalised.

Biswas said that except for sit-ins and demonstrations on railway tracks and national highways at some places, no untoward incidents were reported from anywhere.

He said apart from 85 companies of the Bihar Military Police (BMP), fifty companies of the central forces have been deployed in different areas in the State to maintain law and order.