Left parties' strike begins in Bihar

A strike called by the Left parties began on a peaceful note in Bihar while normal life was hit as road and rail traffic were disrupted for hours.

A strike called by the Left parties began on a peaceful note in Bihar on Wednesday while normal life was hit as road and rail traffic were disrupted for hours.

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The day long strike has been called by the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist, the Forward Bloc and the Revolutionary Socialist Party.

The Left parties' strike supports the ongoing indefinite strike by the government employees who are demanding implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in 'letter and spirit'.

More than 300,000 employees have been on an indefinite strike for nearly a month. The talks failed with Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio.

The Left parties strike evoked mixed response on Wednesday as normal life was hit in some urban areas. Train services and road traffic were also disrupted for hours, a police officer said.

He said dozens of protesters were taken into custody.

The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal and Lok Janshakti Party also extended their support to strike.

Additional Director General (Police headquarters) Neelmani said that an alert was sounded across the state.

"All police stations have been put on high alert in view of the strike by the Left parties. Also, additional security forces have been deployed in sensitive areas as a precautionary measure," she said.