Rail, road traffic hit in Bihar due to Home Guard agitation

PATNA: Railway services and vehicle movements were badly hit following the indefinite 'chakka jam' agitation by Home Guards in Bihar, which entered its sixth day today.

Over 53,000 Home Guards in the state are on an indefinite strike since May 15 to press for post-service benefits, a hike in daily allowances and retirement age.

As information about the home guards blocking rail and road traffic in all 38 districts came in, Home Guard Director General (DG) P N Rai appealed to the agitators to come back on duty.

"We appeal to the home guards on strike to resume duty immediately. We'll consider their demands sympathetically," Rai said, adding that alternative arrangements have been made by drawing in personnel from the District Armed Police, Bihar Military Police, Special Auxiliary Police and CRPF.

Of all the districts in the state, Patna, Bhojpur, Buxar, Vaishali, Siwan, Saran, Sitamarhi, Kishanganj, Katihar, Purnia, Madhubani, Darbhanga, West Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Gaya and Nalanda were the worst affected by the agitation, a police official said.

The Home Guards blocked National Highway-31 in Kishanganj for several hours, leading to stoppage of movement of goods in North Bihar. In Patna, they blocked traffic at several places, while in Bettiah in West Champaran district they pelted stones at police, he said.

Inspector General (IG) (Railway) Amit Kumar said the agitators squatted on railway platforms and tracks at Patna, Ara, Jehanabad, and Dehri-on-Sone stations leading to disturbance in the movement of trains.