Fuel price protests cripple key Indian cities

New Delhi: Transport services in key Indian cities were paralysed on Friday amid protests against the government's decision to raise fuel prices.

Fuel prices increased by around 10 per cent this week, prompting opposition groups to call for strikes.

Businesses, schools and road and rail transport were paralysed for a second day in Kolkata and throughout West Bengal as protesters stopped trains, buses and taxis.

Protesters also shut down Andhra Pradesh state, laying siege to bus stations and sitting on railway tracks. Some bus stations were damaged and at least 50 people were arrested.

In New Delhi, more than 1,000 opposition supporters protested near parliament, forcing police to use water cannon when a few dozen broke through two barricades.

And in the financial capital Mumbai, the Hindu-nationalist Shiv Sena group, has also threatened protests at various points during the evening rush hour.

Flights out of Kolkata and Hyderabad were unaffected but many arriving passengers were left stranded with no way to get into the cities.