1,000 Indian students held for protests over firebrand politician

Police arrested more than 1,000 students in India's eastern Bihar state yesterday after their protests over the release on bail of a firebrand politician turned violent.
Raj Thackeray was arrested on Monday for allegedly inciting violence against migrant workers travelling from poor states like Bihar to the Indian financial capital Mumbai, but was freed two days later.
Students in Bihar enforced a strike Saturday in protest against his release, attacking several railway stations, blocking national highways and clashing with police in some areas of the state.
"We are protesting against Raj Thackeray's hooliganism," said student leader Awadesh Lalu who was later arrested.
"We will protest until action is taken against him and he is jailed again."
At least 1,021 students arrested across the state, police officer Anil Kumar Sinha told AFP.
Bihar continues to burn for the fourth consecutive day Friday in the aftermath of anti-MNS protest as youths indulged in arson and vandalism across the state.
Violence erupted in Boring road area of the state capital with nearly 100 youths armed with sticks descending on the streets smashing window panes of shops and pulling down arches put up for Deepawali festival, police said.
Two students suffered minor injuries in the canecharge by the police near the outpost while a strong contingent of police was rushed to control the situation.
The agitators also blocked the Anisabad chowk area of the city by burning two bitumen containers. The police chased away the students. After these incidents, the security of all the major installations have been beefed up.
The agitating students ransacked the circle office, National Rural Employment Guarantee office and post of Madhuban block in East Champaran district.
Some 20 cases have been filed against the 40-year-old politician in connection with the attacks last Sunday on north Indians who had come to Mumbai in search of jobs on the railways.
The attacks were allegedly carried out by activists from his Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) or New Maharashtra Army party incensed at what they saw as under-representation of local people in the recruitment process.
The MNS strongly supports jobs for people from western Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, and promotes the use of the local Marathi language and culture.