The attacks unleashed by Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) against North Indians triggered violent protests in Bihar on Tuesday with students vandalising Patna railway station and disrupting movement of trains in Patna and Darbhanga.

Hundreds of examinees returning from Mumbai smashed the glass door of the main entrance of the railway station before forcing their way into the offices of the Station Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent where they damaged furniture, forcing the officers to flee for their lives, railway sources said.

Several other railway staff also fled the station which has been virtually besieged by the agitators, said Public Relations Officer of Danapur division R K Singh.

Superintendent of Railway Police, Patna, D N Gupta, who is camping at the station trying to persuade the agitators to call off their stir, said that the examinees complained about being beaten up by MNS activists who they alleged also looted their belongings.

Gupta, however, said no FIR has so far been lodged as the victims had not submitted any written complaint. Danapur Division PRO Singh said 19 trains, including 2141 Mumbai-Rajendra Nagar Express, 3237 Patna-Mathura Express, 2349 Pune-Patna Express, 3401 Bhagalpur-Danapur Intercity Express, 3287 Durg-Danapur Express and 6359 Patna-Kochi Express were stranded at several stations.