Business establishments, educational institutions, banks and offices remained closed in response to the 24-hour bandh. Vehicles also went off the road.

Security measures have been tightened and additional forces deployed in the sensitive and important areas. Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the vulnerable Khowai sub- division after several rounds of ethnic violence claimed at least nine lives under Teliamura police station over the last two days.

A huge contingent of para-military and other security forces led by senior police, Central Reserve Police Force and Assam Rifles officers were maintaining vigil on the situation.

A Left Front statement said here that the bandh was called to protest growing militant violence in the state and the Centre's reluctance to despatch additionalarmy and para-military forces to tackle militancy. When the state government demanded additional forces the BJP Government at the Centre withdrew some battalions of the army from the state and posted them in Kashmir, the statement alleged.

The state BJP in a separate statement criticised the Left Front Government for its alleged failure to curb militancy and demanded imposition of President's Rule. The party also urged the president to recall state Governor Siddheswar Prasad.

The Indian Airlines operated its scheduled flights between Calcutta and Agartala today. Meanwhile, state pradesh Congress president Gopal Roy told newspersons here that the party gave the bandh call demanding imposition of President's Rule in the state.

``The Left Front Government has totally failed to curb militancy,'' Roy observed. He said the party's scheduled eight hour sit-in demonstration in support of its eight point charter of demands had been deffered to October 23 in view of today's bandh.

Chief Minister Manik Sarkar,who rushed here yesterday without attending a CPI(M) rally in Calcutta, held high level meetings with his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials to review the situation.

In a statement, Sarkar said the militants, frustrated at their lack of success in achieving their ulterior motive, had turned to attacking and killing innocent villagers.

The chief minister appealed to all sections of the people to come forward and fight the machinations of the extremists and their collaborators unitedly. He also urged the political parties as well as the people to become vigilant and not allow anti-social elements to exploit the difficult situation. He requested all concerned to cooperate fully with the authorities in maintaining peace.

Various other political parties, including Tripura Upajati Juba Samity and Revolutionary Socialist Party, supported the bandh call and expressed concern over the increasing militant violence.

Meanwhile, police said armed militants last night kidnapped two people from Takarjala areasin West Tripura. Security forces rushed to the spot and launched a search operation.