Mixed response to BJP-sponsored bandh in Bihar

PATNA: Life was today partially hit in Bihar during a bandh called by BJP to protest against JD(U) pulling out of NDA with workers of the two parties clashing in the state capital and train services being disrupted in several places.

While shops and markets remained closed, offices and banks were open, official sources said. Due to summer vacation, educational institutions are closed.

Vehicular traffic was thin in the state capital with only a few autorickshaws plying on the main streets.

BJP workers disrupted train traffic in several places. Skirmishes between BJP and JD(U) workers took place in Patna.

A report from Nalanda said that bandh supporters stopped trains at Biharsharif. Nalanda is home district of the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

The day-long Bihar bandh has been called by BJP in protest against JD(U) parting ways with it in the wake of the appointment of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP's election campaign committee chief.