Bihar burns in MNS fire; 30 injured

There was no let up in violence in Bihar caused by Sunday’s attack on north Indian students by Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists in Mumbai. The protesters indulged in acts of arson, stone pelting and vandalism at several places in the state on Thursday.

The protestors set ablaze Bapudham Motihari Railway Station under the Samastipur railway division. They also set on fire a police vehicle and pelted stones on the policemen when they tried to pacify them. At least 30 people, including half-a-dozen policemen, were hurt, forcing the latter to open fire.

“The Central Reserve Police Force personnel fired two rounds in the air to quell a violent mob, which had torched the railway station and a police jeep. No one, however, was injured in the firing. The situation is now under control,” said East Champaran Superintendent of Police N.H. Khan.

The Patna railway station, which is otherwise teeming with people, too looked deserted on Thursday, with most passengers having cancelled their journey and remained at home. For those who stayed back on platforms, they had no choice. Among those stranded at the platform was 14-year-old Jagvendra Kumar, with a catheter attached to him. He was on the way to Chandigarh for treatment. Unfortunately, the Railways, too, had betrayed him.