New Delhi: Stray incidents of violence in Gujarat, where some cases of stabbing were reported, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh marred the otherwise peaceful country-wide bandh called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena on September 26 in protest against the terrorist attack on Swaminarayan temple killing 31 devotees.

With special security arrangements in place throughout the country to prevent any communal backlash, the dawn-to-dusk bandh was near total in all the three states, where normal life was almost paralysed.

The bandh also had some impact in states like Bihar, Kerala, Uttaranchal, Assam and Karnataka where most of the educational institutions and business establishments remained closed.

Hundreds of VHP and Shiv Sena volunteers were rounded up when they tried to forcibly close down shops and business establishments forcing police at some places including Lucknow to use baton to disperse them.

The country's financial capital Mumbai was paralysed with banks and financial institutions wearing a deserted look. Clearing operations were affected in the Reserve Bank.

In Gujarat, where Army has been deployed in sensitive areas, two persons were allegedly stabbed by Bajrang Dal activists in the textile city of Surat. In Ahmedabad, which recently witnessed large-scale communal violence, Army convoys moved around keeping a tight vigil.

PTI