Patna: Over a thousand followers of the Rashtriya Janata Dal were in custody on Thursday for trying to enforce a shutdown in Bihar to protest in opposition to the sand-mining policy of the Nitish Kumar-led government.

A top police officer told strikers tried to interrupt road traffic in the morning and forced vendors to close their shops in a number of districts. In the state capital, the bandh stirred up mixed reactions as many commercial establishments continued to open but downed shutters for short periods during visits by RJD followers.

A total of 1,734 persons were detained from corner to corner the state for disrupting public order, as trying to put in force the bandh informed Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) SK Singhal

SK Singhal said 18 FIRs have been filed at various police stations in the districts in links with the incidents reported throughout the day. Senior RJD leaders, together with MLAs Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Bhola Yadav, were detained at the Dak Bungalow Road crossing when they were enactment a demonstration in a tractor.

RJD Chief Lalu Prasad remained noticeable by his absence at the demonstrations staged by his party.