The dawn-to-dusk bandh here, called by various trade unions to press for a judicial probe into the violent incidents in Yanam leading to the deaths of a company official and a trade union leader on January 27, evoked mixed response.
The bandh call was given by AITUC, CITU and BMS. They also wanted a solatium of Rs 25 lakh to the family of the deceased trade union leader.
All government offices functioned normally. Police pickets were posted at vulnerable points. While Government buses operated with police escort, most of the interstate and intra state privately operated buses were off the roads.
Police took into custody around 70 persons belonging to various political parties for staging road roko at various centres. Around 30 persons were taken into preventive custody last night, police source said.
Shops and business establishments remained closed in the city while vegetable and fish stalls and road side tea stalls functioned normally on the outskirts of Puducherry.
In the violence in Yanam, Vice-President of the Regency Ceramics Limited K C Chandrasekar was beaten to death by a frenzied mob. A trade union leader Murali Mohan also died allegedly in police action unleashed against violent group of workers.
Police have arrested five persons in connection with violence and murder Chandrasekhar.
The company had declared lock out of its facility in Yanam.