Patna: The Dakbungalow roundabout came to a standstill on Monday for around an hour when workers of Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) entered the restricted zone to launch the Aakrosh March (protest march) against the alleged assault on party president Upendra Kushwaha on April 10.

Residents had to bear the brunt of the protest as vehicles got struck in traffic jams. The RLSP workers numbering around 200 started their march from JP roundabout where police tried to stop them. They entered Fraser Road which is a restricted area. At many places, between JP roundabout and Dakbungalow, there were minor clashes between police and party workers.

However, when they reached Dakbugalow around 1pm, the police barricading prevented them from coming further on to the road. Many workers tried to break the barricade but the forces stopped them.

The protesters were led by RLSP state general secretary Satyanand Prasad Dangi, national working president of the party Nagmani, national vice-president Dasai Choudhary and general secretary Bhola Sharma.

The protesters were demanding Z category security for Union minister of state for HRD Upendra Kushwaha stating that he was manhandled during the Bharat Bandh.

The protesters had planned to march upto Raj Bhavan to submit a memorandum demanding Z category security for their leader. In the scorching heat, many autos, city buses and private vehicles remained stranded.

Patna deputy superintendent of police (DSP), law and order, Shibli Nomani was present with the new traffic superintendent of police (SP) PN Mishra. They tried their best to pacify the protesters requesting them to allow vehicles to move. Regular announcements were made on the public address system to move out of the restricted zone.

However, after some time the protester accepted the police proposal to be arrested. However, there was no bus available to take them to Gandhi Maidan police station. Suddenly, additional district magistrate (ADM, law and order) Ashutosh Verma found a city bus coming from the station side. He asked the police to stop the bus and de-board all passengers inside it forcefully.

There were around 20 passengers inside the bus and all were forced to come down. Verma entered the bus and slapped the driver asking him to stop the bus. The conductor intervened and said he will not go anywhere. As soon as the protesters started entering, the driver took the bus away from Dakbungalow.

Verma then shouted at the cops calling them useless. He stressed that if the situation didn't come under control, the city will come to a standstill and there was an urgent need to clear the road. The police then stopped another bus of the Bihar State Road Transport Corporation (BSRTC) and again the passengers were asked to step out. The protesters were put inside and taken to Gandhi Maidan police station.

Patna sadar sub-divisional magistrate Bhavesh Mishra said FIRs would be lodged against all who entered the restricted zone.