The Left parties have called for a shutdown in Khagaria and demanded action against Ranvir Yadav, the husband of ruling Janata Dal-United (JD-U) legislator Poonam Devi, for snatching a policeman's rifle and firing in the air to "terrorise" protestors.

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Rajendra Singh said the shutdown was near total as people supported the protest against the state government's repressive measures during Nitish Kumar's 'Adhikar Yatra'.

Ranvir Yadav, a former JD-U legislator, allegedly fired in the air Sep 27 to disperse contractual teachers during their protest against the chief minister in Khagaria.

Contractual teachers across Bihar are angry and staging demonstrations against Nitish Kumar for his flat refusal to accept their demand, chiefly for according them the status and salary of the permanent government teachers.

"Yadav is a face of Nitish Kumar, who is now patronising a criminal turned politician for vested interests," a Left leader said.

Opposition parties have demanded an explanation from the state government for not lodging a case against Ranvir Yadav.

Earlier, contractual teachers staged protests in Begusarai, showing slippers to Nitish Kumar. The activists of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) showed him black flags to express their anger against acute power shortage.

Teachers also held protests in Madhubani, East Champaran, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts.

The chief minister, unhappy over protests by contractual teachers, repeatedly told the teachers that his government would not fulfil their demands after they created ruckus at his public meetings in Motihari, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Begusarai, Khagaria, Madhepura during his 'Adhikar Yatra'.

The chief minister was sharply criticised by the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal, the Congress and the Left parties for his stand.