Arrested MLA's supporters go on rampage, try to torch train

Violence erupted in parts of Patna district today after the arrest of JD(U) muscleman and MLA Anant Singh as his supporters went on a rampage, tried to set a train on fire and disrupted rail and road traffic.

Supporters of Singh, an accused in over two dozen cases of murder, kidnapping and extortion, had given a call for bandh in Barh subdivision to protest his arrest.

Police said bandh supporters threw kerosene at Mokama-Ara shuttle passenger train in a bid to torch it while it was about to start its journey.

However, any untoward incident was averted as Government Rail Police acted promptly and chased them away.

The travellers also vacated the affected bogies, police said.

Rail IG Amit Kumar said the protesters disrupted train services since 7 am and threw stones at trains and a window pane of 13131 Kolkata-Anand Vihar Express was damaged in it.

"The disruption was confined between Bakhtiyarpur and Mokama stretch of Railways. The disturbance was more at places where tracks ran parallel to roads. The protesters tinkered with signals and braking systems to stop trains at a few places. A couple of trains were stranded at Barh station. However, the train traffic was resumed smoothly by around 1.15 pm," the Rail IG said.

Police had to use force and tear gas to chase the protesters away.

Rail traffic could be restored only in the afternoon when the routes were cleared.

East Central Railway Chief Public Relations Officer Arvind Kumar Rajak said over 20 mail and express trains and 12 passenger trains were affected in the protests. The trains were stopped at various places in the district.

"A passenger travelling in coach C-2 of 12024 Patna-Howrah Jan Shatabdi Express suffered head injuries as stones were pelted at the train. In another incident, the driver of 63217 Mokama-Danapur passenger was detained by around 50 protesters close to Shivnar halt near Mokama," Rajak said.

There was also disruption of road traffic at various places on NH 31 and state highways by the bandh supporters.