Patna: A strike call by the Left parties to protest against the hike in fuel prices and to demand a check on spiralling prices of essential commodities evoked a mixed response in Bihar Tuesday.

The normal life was hit in some rural areas while urban areas were largely unaffected. But train traffic was disrupted for hours. Similarly, road traffic was also affected during the state-wide 12-hour strike that started early Tuesday morning, a police official said.

Hundreds of protesters were taken into custody across the state by the police for disrupting train and road traffic.

The strike was called by the Left parties including the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist, the Forward Bloc, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Krantikari Manch.

Activists of the Left parties stopped Mithila Express near Mehsi in East Champaran district, and halted Delhi-bound Shramjivi Express at Biharsharif, headquarters of Nalanda district. Train traffic was also disrupted in Patna, Gaya, Bhojpur, Samastipur districts.

The protesters disrupted vehicular traffic on National Highway No. 31 that connects Begusarai with Khagaria and National Highway No. 28 linking Begusarai to Muzaffarpur and Bakhtiyarpur.

However, police officials claimed that no violence was reported. The strike has so far passed off peacefully except for stray incidents.

 

Source : IANS