BJP, JD(U) workers clash during Bihar bandh

Supporters of former allies BJP and JD(U) today clashed on the streets here during a day-long saffron party-sponsored Bihar bandh in protest against JD(U) snapping ties as normal life was hit and train services were disrupted.
Over 3,200 people, including BJP leaders Sushil Kumar Modi, Ravi Shankar Prasad and C P Thakur, were arrested.
A clash broke out on the Veer Chand Patel Path, which hosts offices of both JD(U) and BJP, with lathi-weilding supporters of the two parties attacking each other which resulted in injuries on both sides.
The clash took place after BJP protesters objected to a group of JD(U) workers, led by the state unit spokesman Rajiv Ranjan, marching towards their office apparently to obstruct their agitation.

An FIR was lodged by an injured Ranjan against BJP workers in the Kotwali police station, Station House Officer Aman Kumar told PTI. Ranjan was first taken to the Gardinar Road Government Hospital and then rushed to Patna Medical College and Hospital where he was admitted in the ICU.
He was kept under observation, his close aide said.

Senior BJP leaders, including Thakur, Sushil Modi, Prasad, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Radhamohan Singh and Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, were held at Dak Bunglow chowk, police said.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) S K Bhardwaj said that a total 3,227 persons, including the top BJP leaders, were arrested during the bandh.

Sources in East Central Railway (ECR) said that at least four trains were detained by bandh supporters at different places in the state.
Commenting on BJP's naming of today's bandh as "Viswasghat Divas", Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, "When you break up from something, it initially leads to venting of anger.
"Keeping in view the long association, I'll try to have good relation with them (BJP). Political issues would be answered politically," he told reporters.