Gaya, Oct. 9: Around 20 people were injured in a clash between JD(U) activists and contractual teachers as chief minister Nitish Kumar addressed the Adhikar Yatra rally at Gandhi Maidan here today.

Trouble broke out when the contractual teachers raised slogans in favour of their demands and the JD(U) activists opposed them. Both the sides hurled stones at each other even as Nitish, barely 150m away on the dais, went on with his address on the need for special status to Bihar.

Sources said several JD(U) activists were involved in an altercation with security personnel deployed at the northern gate of Gandhi Maidan. Raj Gautam, the chief of the JD(U)’s student wing, Gaya unit, was detained following the altercation. He was, however, released later.

Nitish reiterated that his party would extend support to any formation in New Delhi, which would accord Bihar special status. “It (special status) will enhance the per capita income and per capita investment of Bihar and generate more employment opportunities,” he said.

The district administration had stepped up security arrangements across the town to ensure that Nitish did not have to experience any unsavoury incident during his visit to the town.

Apprehending breach in security ahead of the Adhikar Yatra rally, the district administration had deputed a magistrate, a videographer and security personnel to keep tabs on Sanjeev Shyam Singh, an Independent MLC representing the Gaya (Teachers’) constituency. Singh is spearheading the contractual teachers’ agitation. He had contested the seat on a JD(U) ticket in 2005 but lost to Arun Kumar. In the 2011 election, he fought as an Independent candidate.

Despite security deployment, Singh took part in a torchlight procession taken out by hundreds of contractual teachers last evening. “Deputation of a magistrate, videographer and security personnel is like seizing the independence of expression of an individual. I could not move around freely,” he told The Telegraph. Till late last evening, the magistrate, videographer and the security personnel escorted him and his activities were recorded. However, sources said, the magistrate, the videographer and the security personnel did not turn up today.

The contractual teachers had told the administration in advance that they would take out a “peaceful procession” to raise their demands that included regularisation of service and salary payment on time.

District magistrate Bandana Preyashi said magistrates, along with security personnel and videographers, were deployed in various parts of the city to ensure that the teachers’ rally did not turn violent. “Today, we deployed around 100 videographers to record any attempt of law and order violation,” she added.

Clashes were reported in Nawada where demonstrators hurled chairs at each other at Harischandra Stadium — the venue of Nitish’s meeting. Alleging corruption in the district administration level, some people attacked each other with chairs and slippers.