The stir, sponsored by the National Platform of Mass Organisations (NPMO), crippled activity in West Bengal and Kerala. Normal life was also thrown out of gear in Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Assam and Manipur.

While no major incident was reported during the strike, 300 persons were arrested in Orissa, 150 in Bihar and 30 in Tamil Nadu for various offences including violation of prohibitory orders.

In Delhi, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh where the strike call evoked a partial response, thin attendance hampered the functioning of banks.

Normal life was not affected in the national capital but workers stayed off their jobs in the industrial areas of Okhla, Naraina and Wazipur.

Reports from Uttar Pradesh, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Haryana said the strike had little impact on normal life with banks, business establishments and offices functioning as usual.

NPMO convenor N K Pandhe claimed the strike was ``by and large successful'' in Delhi, while there was a ``total bandh'' in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Bihar and Assam.

While, public transport was off the roads in states affected by the strike, in West Bengal, Kerala and Bihar, train services were also disrupted with supporters of the strike picketing trains.

Indian Airlines cancelled all its services to and from Calcutta but operated its services to other centres on schedule.

In West Bengal, stray incidents of clashes between supporters and opponents of the strike left four injured.

In Kerala, the working of state government offices, factories and educational institutions was affected. Vehicles venturing out on the roads were stoned.

The strike also hit the industrial belt in Kochi besides affecting normal working of Cochin port.

Reports from Chennai said the textile belts of Coimbatore and Erode were affected while major industries including automobile manufacturing units near Chennai reported thin attendance.

Tamil film actor Mansoor Ali Khan and 30 others were arrested for violating prohibitory orders near Raj Bhavan. They were trying to organise a cricket match to express solidarity with the strikers.

The Rajya Sabha and the Orissa Assembly saw the non-Congress Opposition forcing an adjournment of the House over the nationwide strike.

Trade unions controlled by the Congress did not participate even as the AIADMK, a BJP ally, backed the strike.