NEW DELHI, Nov 27 — The Delhi bandh called today by the industrial workers and owners, to protest against the closure of 1.21 lakh units in non-conforming areas, was by and large peaceful with minor incidents of stone throwing, lobbing of tear gas shells and police resorting to lathicharge to quell the protest in some parts of the Capital.

The Delhi Police Commissioner, Mr Ajai Raj Sharma said there was no major incident reported anywhere in the Capital.

The bandh, however, affected normal life. Schools remained closed as a precautionary measure. Many wholesale markets, industrial units and several commercial areas remained closed in support of the bandh.

Officegoers and other commuters faced difficulty with fewer public transport buses plying on the road in the morning. The situation, however, improved as the day progressed.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from West and East Delhi and the police lobbed 30 tear gas shells and resorted to lathicharge to prevent protesters trying to march to Jantar Mantar near Parliament House in violation of the prohibitory orders, the police said.

“The police arrested 16 persons on charges of creating disturbance and breaking prohibitory order,” the Joint Commissioner of Police (South), Mr Amod Kanth, said.

Despite heavy security arrangements in the Capital, including the deployment of the Rapid Action Force and mounted police forces in sensitive areas, industrial workers and owners held dharnas and blocked traffic in different parts of the city.

The police had taken several precautionary measures, as three persons were killed and scores of people including police personnel were injured and public property worth lakhs was damaged in violent protest by industrial workers and owners last week.

Even as the issue of closure of industrial units echoed in Parliament and Delhi Assembly with the Congress and the BJP trading charges for the situation, the Delhi Government filed another review petition in the Supreme Court, on the eve of apex court hearing on contempt case.

The Supreme Court has asked the Delhi Chief Secretary and MCD Commissioner to appear in person for their (Delhi Government and MCD) failure to comply with court orders passed in 1996.

Earlier, the Delhi Chief Minister, Ms Sheila Dikshit along with her Cabinet colleagues met the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and apprised her of the plight of industrial workers and urged her to raise the issue in both Houses of Parliament.

In the Delhi Assembly, Leader of Opposition Jagdish Mukhi moved a calling attention motion resulting in heated exchanges between the Treasury and Opposition benches.