TIL Desk/National/Patna/ Over a thousand supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) were detained on Thursday for trying to enforce a shutdown in Bihar to protest against the sand-mining policy of the Nitish Kumar-led government.
A top police officer said protesters tried to disrupt road traffic in the morning and forced vendors to close their shops in several districts. In the state capital, the bandh evoked mixed response as many commercial establishments remained open but downed shutters for brief periods during visits by RJD supporters.
“A total of 1,734 persons were held across the state for disrupting public order, while trying to enforce the bandh,” Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) S K Singhal told reporters. He said 18 FIRs have been lodged at various police stations in the districts in connection with the incidents reported during the day.
Senior RJD leaders, including MLAs Tejashwi Yadav, Tej Pratap Yadav and Bhola Yadav, were detained at the Dak Bungalow Road crossing when they were staging a demonstration in a tractor, police said. They were taken to the Kotwali police station nearby and let off a couple of hours later after they signed bonds, they said.
