BIHAR AND JHARKHAND RESPOND TO MAHARASHTRA VIOLENCE

UNCLAS KOLKATA 000299

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM ELTN PGOV ASEC CASC SOCI IN
SUBJECT: BIHAR AND JHARKHAND RESPOND TO MAHARASHTRA VIOLENCE

REF: A. MUMBAI 505

B. MUMBAI 513


1. (SBU) Summary: From October 21-25, students vandalized
railway cars and stations in Bihar. The violence was in
response to Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS)
activists' attacks on north Indian Hindi-speaking job aspirants
at railway recruitment centers in Maharashtra on October 19.
Students called a one-day general strike in Bihar on October 25
alleging that MNS activists killed a Bihari railway candidate
during the attack. CM Nitish Kumar sought Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's intervention in the matter. Violence has
subsided and train services have returned to normal. End
summary.


2. (SBU) From October 21-25, Bihari students attacked train cars
and railway stations throughout Bihar, causing train services to
be cancelled between Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
According to the Additional Director General of Police in Bihar
Anil Sinha, protesters targeted Patna, Jehanabad, Barh,
Khusrupur, Fatuha, Saharsa, Ara, Sasaram, Purnia and Bhagalpur
railway stations. According to contacts, students attacked
railway stations in order draw media attention for their protest
against attacks by activists of Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra
Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Bihari candidates at a railway
recruitment exam center in suburban Mumbai (Reftel B).
According to Sinha, Bihar police detained over one thousand
students. He confirmed that the police used gunfire and baton
charges to disperse the protesters in Sasaram where a railway
track was blocked.


3. (SBU) Sources in the Indian Railways from Patna informed
PolFSN that all railway passengers were safe since they were
allowed to disembark before the train cars were set fire.
Students held a one-day strike on October 25, but since then
there has not been any significant violence. Train services
between Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal returned to normal on
October 26. Several students have filed criminal cases with the
Bihar police against MNS chief Raj Thackeray.


4. (U) Special Secretary in Bihar's Home department informed
PolFSN that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar held several meetings with
senior government officials and political parties seeking their
help to control the growing dissent and violent mood of the
Bihari students. CM Kumar also appealed to the people of Bihar,
particularly students, to maintain peace. The official added
that CM Nitish Kumar has also sought Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh's intervention in the matter.


5. (SBU) In the neighboring state of Jharkhand, the Bharatiya
Bhojpuri Sangh (BBS) of Jharkhand launched a campaign against
the Maharashtrians in the state. According to the General
Manager of Tata Motors, on October 22 BBS activists vandalized
the official residence of S.B. Borwankar, the head of the Tata
Motors plant in Jamshedpur. S.B. Borwankar is originally from
the state of Maharashtra. Sources in Tata Motors informed
PolFSN that no one was injured and suspected that the incident
was staged to highlight the issue of regionalism in the
newspapers. Jharkhand police have arrested two BBS activists.

PAYNE