Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) The Bharat bandh called by NDA and Left parties to protest the petrol price hike today evoked a mixed response in Maharashtra. Several shops and commercial establishments remained closed. However, local trains and city buses operated normally, as did most of the taxis and autorickshaws. Over 60 municipal buses in Mumbai were damaged in stone pelting by protesters at various places including Mulund, Dadar, Worli and Currey Road. Two bus drivers were injured in the stone-pelting, police said. Hundreds of activists were detained by police following protests and 'rasta-roko' staged by them at various places. Those detained included state BJP state president Sudhir Mungantiwar, former MP Kirit Somaiya and MLA Sardar Tara Singh. Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said incidents of vandalism during the bandh will be looked into and compensation sought from organisation which were behind them. People have not responded to the bandh, Patil said. Banks witnessed thin business in Mumbai. While branches were open as the city transport system was not impacted by the strike, the banking district witnessed low business because there was a near-total compliance to the bandh call by traders and other commercial establishments. In Akola, protesters waved flags at Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was proceeding to attend a function at the local agriculture university. In Ratnagiri, social activist Anna Hazare, on a statewide tour of Maharashtra, appealed protesters to implement the bandh in a peaceful manner. "Any violence will be against the spirit of the bandh," he said. Attendance in Mantralaya took a hit as many employees, stayed at home due to the bandh, and only 49.15 per cent reported for work. "Of the 8,000 staff in Mantralaya, 3,922 reported for duty," a senior official said here. MORE PTI VT VM KKP SVS BEN GK
