Life disrupted in Kerala, no untoward incidents in South\

Life was disrupted in Kerala Tuesday during the 48-hour general strike called by trade unions and in Karnataka, the protest evoked mixed response while by and large it was business as usual in the three other southern states.

No untoward incidents have been reported from any of the southern states, according to officials.

The two-day nationwide strike was called by ten central trade unions against the "anti-labour" policies of the Centre.

In Kerala, the stir virtually turned into a 'hartal'.

Offices reported low attendance, schools and colleges were shut and banking services affected.

According to bank unions, 22,000 bank employees participated in the strike. The State secretariat reported very low attendance.

Though trade unions had promised that vehicles would not be blocked and shops and business establishments not forcibly shut, there were reports of some shops being forced to down shutters.

Strike supporters forcibly shut some business units at Manjeri in Malappuram, police said.

Shops were open at "Mittayi Theruvu" (Sweet street) at Kozhikode and Broadway at Kochi, but at the usually bustling Chala market in Thiruvanathapuram, the strike was total.

Some protesters squatted on rail tracks at various places delaying departure of trains. Buses and autorickshaws also kept off the roads, putting people into difficulties.

All trade unions except the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh have supported the stir, which has come five days after a 'hartal' was observed by right-wing groups in protest the entry of two young women into the Sabarimala shrine.

Trains were stopped in Thiruvananthapuram, Tripunithura, Shoranur railway stations, and were running late.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) could not operate most of its fleet of buses.

Sabarimala pilgrims, tourists, social and religious functions have been exempted from the strike.

In Karnataka, hotels, shops and establishments like malls and film theatres functioned as usual, with their unions extending "moral support" to the strike.

While buses of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation stayed off the roads in most parts of the state, causing inconvenience to people travelling to distant places, private buses, auto, taxi and metro services plied as usual.

Very few Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses were seen plying on the roads. Miscreants hurled stones at two BMTC buses, police said.

The state Bharatiya Janata Party described the strike "illogical, irrational and politically-motivated" move called by "frustrated elements" and has asked people to reject it.

Barring partial impact on banking activities, it was business as usual in Telangana Tuesday.

Employees belonging to the All India Bank Employees Association and Bank Employees Federation of Indiatook part inthestrikeaffecting banking transactions partially across the State, AIBEA national secretary B S Rambabu said.

Buses plied as usual and schools functioned
A senior state transport department official said bus services inside the state were smooth. However, services to the neighbouring states Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry were cancelled for "reasons of safety."