Business establishments remained closed and schools and colleges declared a holiday. Buses, autorickshaws and taxis remained off the roads in several parts of the state.
Home Minister R Ashok said barring some stray incidents of violence, the bandh was peaceful in the state. There were some stray incidents of stone-pelting in some parts, he told reporters, adding, as many as 15 buses were damaged in stone pelting and two buses set on fire.
Voicing their protest against the steep increase, Chief Minister D V Sadananada Gowda accompanied by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar rode bicycles around Cubbon Park.
Lashing out at the Union Government, Gowda said it had increased petrol prices 13 times. "If the UPA government does not address issue of hike in petrol prices, then the chief ministers and ministers will have to use cycles to do their official work," he said.
Gowda said the state government would look into the possibility of reducing cess on petrol after the Legislature Council polls on June 11 to reduce the burden on common man.
"I will look into the possibility of reducing cess on petrol soon after elections to the legislature council. For now, I can't comment on the issue due to model code of conduct," he said.
BJP leaders led by State BJP President K S Eshwarappa staged a protest near Mysore Bank Circle shouting slogans and flaying the Central government for its "anti-people" policies.
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Eshwarappa along with 19 other BJP leaders including P C Mohan, MP, besides three MLAs courted arrest, police said.
Members belonging to Socialist Unity Centre of India and JDU also protested against the hike by carrying anti-UPA government placards, shouting slogans and burning effigies.
In all, 2,000 persons belonging to various organisations participated in the protest, police said.