Bharat bandh total in Karnataka

Buses, autorickshaws and taxis kept off the roads and commercial establishments downed shutters. Flight services were also hit. Even skeletal bus services were withdrawn after incidents of stone pelting.

Nearly 15 outgoing flights and as many incoming flights were cancelled at the Bengaluru International Airport. Owing to low passenger turnout, some of the air carriers operated joint flights to eliminate low occupancy rate.

Most of the IT companies remained shut in the country's IT hub.
More than 100 BJP activists staged a protest at Basaveswara circle here and courted arrest. Around 20 MLAs, one MP, 20 corporators and over 40 workers were briefly detained.

The bandh also had an echo in the state Assembly which was adjourned without transacting any official business after the BJP members raised slogans against the UPA and were countered by the Opposition Congress which raked up the issue of alleged illegal mining in the state.

Praveen Sood, Additional Commissioner of Police, Traffic, said, "There were some stray incidents of stone pelting but they were immediately contained and situation brought under control."

Around 20 state-owned buses were damaged in stone pelting incidents, Transport Minister T R Ashok said.

The bandh also partly impacted railway services as the protestors stopped trains briefly in Mangalore, Bangalore and Mysore.

Cinema theatres suspended screening of films with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce supporting the strike.

Private educational institutions remained closed while government schools, colleges, offices and banks witnessed a low turnout.

A press release from the DGP said commercial activity had come to a halt in the state, besides vehicular movement.