VHP members shout slogans during the 12-hour bandh at Sakchi market on Sunday. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Aug. 29: A 12-hour bandh sponsored by VHP choked the arterial NH-33 for hours today though strict police vigil ensured that the shutdown did not bring life to a complete standstill in the steel city and other towns in the twin districts of Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan.

The bandh, called in protest against a state decision to remove all shrines set up on encroached land, saw shopkeepers at Sakchi, Jugsalai, Bistupur, Mango and Golmuri downing shutters in the morning as bandh supporters took to the streets.

But police swung into action immediately and started arresting VHP members, thus ensuring normalcy.

The bandh supporters also tried to force a similar shutdown in Seraikela-Kharsawan district.

The VHP activists, led by VHP’s Seraikela-Kharsawan district unit convener Mithilesh Kumar Mahto, also set up a blockade on NH-33 around 9am, disrupting traffic at Chowka for hours.

The blockade also affected vehicular movement between Chowka and Kandra, dealing a blow to industrial activities.

The blockade was lifted after more than an hour following the intervention of police and local administrative officials.

Rajiv Nandan Singh, the president of the East Singhbhum district committee of VHP, said the BJP had also supported the bandh, but no BJP activist could be spotted on the roads today.