12 Policemen Hurt In Clash With Rjd Men

The week-long jail bharo (fill the jail) campaign launched to protest against the detention of former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav turned violent on its final day yesterday with ruling Rashtriya Janata Dal supporters indulging in heavy-stone throwing and arson, injuring 12 policemen at Saharsa.

A saharsa report, quoting official sources, said a mob of Rashtriya Janata Dal supporters went on the rampage at the district collectorate here while courting arrest.

Laloo-suppporters pelted stones and torched a government jeep, besides damaging the vehicle of the assistant superintendent of police, Saharsa, parked inside the collectorates premises, the sources said.

Twelve policemen were injured in the stone-throwing incident, sources said.

Police had a trying time chasing away irate Laloo supporters by using lathis. Some Rashtriya Janata Dal supporters were reported to have suffered injuries. A large number of Laloo-loyalists courted arrest at several district headquarters in response to the call.

Lawyers including former Chief Ministers counsel Shakeel Ahmed Khan and hundreds of supporters also courted arrest in the state capital. The fill-the-jail campaign is an extension of the August 1 statewide bandh called by the Rashtriya Janata Dal in protest against the detention of Yadav.