Rajesh Kumar ‘Dablu’ injured in the clash between JD(U) and BJP supporters in Patna on Tuesday. Picture by Deepak Kumar

Call it a collateral damage or friendly clash — the bandh left a bloody trail along the Beer Chand Patel Marg on Tuesday.

“They were my friends even a couple of days back. We took part in a lot of political activities over the past few years. How come they attack me like that?” lamented Rajesh Kumar “Dablu”, who was physically assaulted allegedly by the BJP workers during the bandh to mark “Vishwasghat Divas” on Tuesday.

If Vishwasghat or betrayal was the key to the bandh, what triggered the saffron party supporters was a sudden resistance by some JD(U) workers on a road named after the freedom fighter, Beer Chand Patel. As a leader pointed out, the JD(U) is enjoying freedom after its separation from the NDA. However, Dablu paid a price to “enjoy freedom” with 13 stitches on head and fractured right hand.

From his bed at the intensive care unit (ICU) of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Dablu claimed that he had gone out on the streets in support of his brother Rajeev Ranjan Prasad, a JD(U) spokesperson, who was also assaulted in the scuffle with the BJP supporters. “According to the party’s instructions, we hit the streets to control the bandh called by the BJP and stop any untoward incident. However, the situation became violent as soon as a group of BJP workers came near the JD(U) office. Though there were many known faces in the BJP group with whom I have participated in many political activities in the past but it was shocking that they forgot everything and acted like criminals,” said Dablu, who was attacked with bamboo sticks.

An FIR was later lodged with Kotwali police station.

Dablu (42) runs a Chinese fast food shop, “Oriental Queen”, at Mauryalok Complex since 1991 and he is also the president of Mauryalok Shopkeepers’ Association since 1996. The association is a large organisation with owners and shopkeepers of around 300 shops in the busiest commercial hub are its members.

Narrating the incident that happened on Tuesday, Dablu said: “I have participated in many political activities in the past but I have never seen such vandalism. The BJP workers primarily targeted my brother (Rajeev). However, when I came in between to protect him, they started bashing me as well. They hit my head repeatedly with bamboo sticks, which led to heavy bleeding. At first, I was sent to Gardiner Road Hospital, from where, the doctors referred me to PMCH.” Gardiner Road Hospital is just 300 metres from the place of occurrence but doctors there did not want to take a risk, said one of the JD(U) workers.

Dablu said that he was feeling quite weak as apart from the blood loss, he was also on fast on Tuesday for performing puja at his shop. His shop was closed and pundits performed rituals in the evening.

The city has not witnessed such political bloodshed in recent times, even in the days of bandh. “This bandh was different. The BJP, being a cadre-based party, wanted to show its strength though it has fewer members in the Assembly,” said a BJP leader who did not want to be named.