The nation-wide bandh called by the Opposition, consisting of Congress and other parties, against the skyrocketing of petrol and diesel prices, threw normal life out of gear in Puducherry and its suburbs on Monday.
Public transport was affected with buses and autorickshaws being off the road. The government-run Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) suspended its services and the normally busy New Bus Stand wore a deserted look.
Private bus services from Puducherry to neighbouring districts were suspended and commuters were left stranded. However, train services were not affected.
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Most private schools and petrol pumps remained closed while markets and commercial establishments in parts of Puducherry were shut.
A few professional colleges functioned as usual. Congress workers were seen on patrols around the town to enforce the lock down.
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Most hotels and restaurants were closed causing inconvenience to tourists. Cinemas suspended their morning and noon shows. Medical shops remained open as they were exempted from the bandh. Bandh supporters pelted stones at a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) bus near the Nellithope signal, while the windscreens of a bus owned by private Arts and Science College was damaged in an incident at Muthialpet.
Congress workers forced petrol bunks operated by government undertakings to shut down.
Zealous cadre
The workers laid siege to the Government petrol bunk on Kamaraj Salai and threatened the bunk employees trying to attend to the customers.
Around 100 cadres belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India courted arrest while taking out a rally in support of the Bharat bandh.
The Youth Congress workers took out a rally and burnt the effigy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Marappalam junction. Around 200 of them courted arrest near the New Bus Stand.