Hundreds arrested in Indian state Protesters condemned the dissolution of the assembly Neary 1,000 people have been arrested in the northern Indian state of Bihar after clashes between opposition party supporters and the police. The BJP-led opposition has called for a strike in Bihar, following a surprise move to call an election. The federal government dissolved the state legislative assembly on Monday, paving the way for a fresh poll. Elections were held in February with no party securing the necessary majority to form a government. The Bihar state authorities say about 600 of those arrested were detained in the state capital, Patna, after Tuesday's clashes. Other arrests took place across the state. Those who have the courage and who want to present their arguments and counterarguments, let them go to the people
Laloo Prasad Yadav RJD president The BBC's Manikant Thakur in Patna says businesses have shut down in the state and few people have turned up to work in banks and government offices. The authorities say public transport has also been affected. India's independent election commission is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the new election. Opposition anger Opposition parties strongly condemned the move to dissolve the assembly, saying it was aimed at pre-empting an opposition-led government from taking office. "Just when efforts to put together a new government in Bihar were complete, they have murdered democracy and hijacked the right of the people to have a popular government," BJP leader and former prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, told reporters. BJP leaders have criticised the election call But the move has been welcomed by the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the Communist parties, who are both allies of the Congress-led Indian government. "Considering the deepening political crisis and confusion, the... government is left with no other option," Communist Party of India secretary, D Raja, is quoted as saying by state television. Railways Minister and RJD president Laloo Prasad Yadav said the opposition should accept the verdict and prepare for the election. "Those who have the courage and who want to present their arguments and counter-arguments, let them go to the people," he said. Split verdict Bihar is one of India's poorest and most lawless states. In February's election, no political alliance was able to win the 122 seats required to secure a majority in the 243-member legislature. The regional RJD, which had ruled the state without a break for 15 years, lost its majority, winning only 75 of the 215 seats it contested. Mr Yadav's wife, Rabri Devi, was forced to resign from her post as chief minister. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
