The nation-wide general strike by central trade unions today paralysed normal life in Odisha which saw disruption of transport, banking and business operations.
Mining operations in the coal belt at Angul and adjoining areas virtually came to a halt and industrial activity was greatly affected across the state.
Around 300 people were taken into custody while they were staging demonstration and picketing at different places, Police said adding, they were later released.
There was no report of any untoward incident, barring damage to some vehicles in different areas of the state.
Describing the strike as a "complete success", AITUC Odisha state committee general secretary Souribandhu Kar said people from different walks of life, including workers and farm labourers had extended "active support" to it.
Train services were disrupted for sometime at several places as protesters blocked tracks near railway stations in Cuttack, Bhubaneswar, Sambalpur, Bhadrak, Chhatrapur and Khalikot, East Coast Railway (ECoR) sources said.
Around a dozen trains were delayed due to the stir leaving many passengers stranded at various places. Normal movement was restored later, they said.
Police said shops, markets, business establishments, educational institutions, banks and insurance and other offices remained closed in most areas.
Work in BSNL and other organisations was also hit.
Vehicular movement was disrupted with buses, trucks and other vehicles remaining off the roads as strike supporters staged road blockades in many places and held pickets at key junctions, police said.
In Bhubaneswar, roads wore a deserted look. Agitators put up pickets at several places to prevent people from proceeding to offices and other destinations.
Around four vehicles were damaged when the supporters tried to enforce the strike, police said.
Similar reports were received from Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Angul, Bhadrak, Talcher, Berhampur and Balasore.
In Paradip, loading and unloading of goods was hit at the port, while work in industrial units like IFFCO and PPL remained largely unaffected, officials said.
