KOLKATA: A strike called by trade unions in India on Tuesday to protest against rising prices and alleged anti-labour policies crippled life in the east and south of the country in Communist-ruled states.

Most other areas were largely unaffected by the protest which came nearly two months after a successful nationwide shutdown led by opposition parties to protest against rising fuel prices.

Schools, colleges and government and private offices were closed across the eastern state of West Bengal and roads were deserted in regional capital Kolkata. About 100 flights were cancelled at the city`s airport.

"Security has been stepped up across the city to avoid untoward incidents," Kolkata city police chief Gautam Mohon Chakraborty told AFP.

In southern Kerala, which is also Communist ruled, unions led rallies in the state capital city Thiruvananthapuram.

"The strike is total in Kerala and all the major unions have joined," M.M Lawrence, general secretary of the Centre of India Trade Union, told AFP.

"The protesting unions have organised peaceful protests against the anti-labour policies of the union (federal) government."

In New Delhi, some branches of nationalised banks shut for the day and Dow Jones Newswires reported that the Indian factory of German engineering group Bosch had shut "for certain national issues".

The rising cost of living in India is one of the hottest political issues at present, with inflation running in near double figures.

A weak monsoon last year hit food production that has led to severe price increases at markets across the country. The trend is now in decline, however, with this year`s monsoon at normal levels.

India`s main inflation index is likely to ease to 7.0 percent by December compared with 9.97 percent at its last reading in July, India`s chief statistician T.C.A. Anant said Tuesday.

BDST: 0348 HRS, September 07, 2010