In Odisha, normal life was paralysed today due to the 12-hour state-wide bandh call given by main opposition Congress party against alleged police crackdown on partymen during an anti-government rally at Bhubaneswar on the 6th of this month.More than 17 trains were cancelled and a dozen of trains were stopped at several railway stations including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khurda Road, Berhampur and Sambalpur as bandh supporters staged dharna on the tracks. Vehicular movement virtually came to a grinding halt in many parts of the state as passenger buses, trucks and auto-rickshaws remained off the roads. More from our correspondent:(V/C)The dawn-to-dusk bandh call in Odisha given by opposition Congress party today has badly affected normal life. A large number of passengers were stranded at railway stations and bus stands at many places, while roads wore a deserted look during the dawn-to-dusk shut-down. Schools, colleges and other educational institutions also remained shut in most areas.A large number of Congress supporters including PCC president Niranjan Patnaik and many other senior party leaders were taken into custody and later released in places like Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Cuttack while picketing near government offices and other places to enforce the bandh.Elaborate security arrangements were made by the police with heavy deployment of force throughout the state to prevent any untoward incident during the shut-down. Baring some violent incidents, the bandh was more or less peaceful.In the state capital Bhubaneswar, about 51 platoons of force have been deployed at different places while strict vigil is maintained near government buildings, vital installations and other sensitive locations.