New Delhi, May 31
The all-India bandh called by the NDA and the Left today in protest against the petrol price hike evoked a mixed response amid stray incidents of violence in Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal and blockade of road and rail traffic.

BJP and Left leaders were detained at several places amid reports of buses and commercial establishments refusing to down their shutters being targeted by their activists. There were no reports of disruption of flights.

In Delhi, the bandh evoked a partial response, as BJP supporters blocked traffic at some places putting commuters to hardship. Offices reported normal attendance. Left leaders Prakash Karat, AB Bardhan and Sitaram Yechury and BJP leaders, including Ananth Kumar, Vijay Goel and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, courted arrest or were detained while leading protests in the National Capital.

Train services in Chandigarh were briefly disrupted. However, shops and commercial establishments remained open and buses plied as usual.

In Congress-ruled Haryana, the bandh call received a mixed response. Most markets were closed in the morning, but started doing business in the afternoon. Though demonstrations and processions were organised, the bandh was peaceful.

The bandh call also evoked a mixed response in Uttar Pradesh. While business establishments remained closed in early hours, things became normal as the day progressed. As the Budget Session of the Vidhan Sabha is on, ruling party as well as BJP MLAs participated in marches early in the day before the House met at 11 am.

The bandh call had little impact in West Bengal. However, there were blockades on the roads, railway tracks and other strategic places. There were also incidents of burning of trains, trams, buses and other private vehicles by the bandh supporters.

(With PTI inputs)