Violence, protests mark Day 1 of Bharat bandh

A union leader was killed in Haryana and factory units damaged in Delhi's suburb Noida in sporadic violence on Wednesday.

The start of a two-day nationwide strike called by trade unions evoked a mixed response, with banking services paralysed and public transport disrupted.

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Kerala, Tripura and Bihar were among the worst hit states where normal life was thrown out of gear.

Stray incidents of violence were reported in Odisha and Karnataka. Protest marches were taken out in several cities.

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Flight and rail operations remained unaffected in the strike called by 11 trade unions against he United Prorgressive Alliance's economic and labour policies.

Reports from state capitals said financial services were crippled and bus commuters faced difficulties.

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In Haryana, bus driver Narender Singh, who was also the treasurer of AITUC, was killed when he tried to stop a bus from plying at the Ambala depot despite the strike, said district president of Haryana Roadways Workers Union Inder Singh Bhadana.

In Noida Phase 2 area, workers clashed with factory owners in a hosiery complex and set ablaze vehicles, prompting authorities to deploy policemen in the area. The workers went on a rampage and damaged industrial properties, said the police.

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From Sector 82 till Greater Noida entry point, which is the industrial belt, workers set ablaze a car, bus and a fire engine, said the police.

"People just barged in, looted everything in sight and even tore our registers," an industrialist said while another said that every single building in the hosiery complex had their windows broken and many vehicles were set on fire.

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Life was partially affected in Trinamool Congress ruled-West Bengal with shops, markets and business establishments closed in many parts of Kolkata, while government-run buses and trams operated in large numbers.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is against bandhs and had warned government employees from remaining absent, claimed that attendance at the state secretariat, Writers' Buildings, was 100 per cent.

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In the national capital, commuters faced hardships as a section of auto-rickshaws and taxis remained off the road in support of the strike.

Bus services were partially hit as a number of bus unions, including a section of Delhi Transport Corporation employees, have also extended support.

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The strike call in the country's financial hub Mumbai witnessed near cent per cent participation by employees from banking and insurance sectors, leaving operations totally paralysed.

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