The Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar assembly, Sushil Kumar Modi, was among the several injured during the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by opposition parties demanding the arrest of policemen involved in a 'fake encounter' in Patna, in which three students were killed.

Modi was taken to the Patna Medical College hospital for treatment. His injury was believed to be not of a very serious nature.

Meanwhile, around 3000 strike supporters, including several National Democratic Alliance leaders like former Union minister Dr C P Thakur, state Bharatiya Janata Party president Nandkishore Yadav, and Samata Party Rajya Sabha member Lalan Singh, were arrested.

The bandh affected normal life in Patna as mobs torched vehicles, attacked government offices and police stations, and disrupted traffic. Till late night some 50 protestors were seen pelting stones on Bailey road near the place where the encounter took place.

Patna Senior Superintendent of Police Sunil Kumar said the strike supporters threw country-made bombs on the police who used only sticks and teargas shells to disperse the mobs.

"We have taken them into custody for defying prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC," Inspector General (Patna) A C Verma said.

Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, however, termed the strike unsuccessful and said the opposition failed in its mission.

Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Laloo Prasad Yadav said the strike backed by the NDA was a part of the conspiracy to cause communal tension in Bihar and cause a situation like the one in Gujarat.

"But we will not allow it to happen. We will visit villages and districts and expose the Sangh Parivar's evil design to create trouble in Bihar," he said.

"We have ordered a Crime Investigation Department probe, arrested a police officer, suspended others, and given compensation of Rs5 lakh to family members. We have tried to do everything to give justice to family members of the youths killed."

With inputs from PTI

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