New Delhi  - A general strike against rising food prices hit daily life in India's eastern state of West Bengal Monday as train services were disrupted, schools and colleges closed and additional police deployed to prevent rioting, reports said.

Activists from the Trinamul Congress party which had called the strike, held demonstrations in the state capital Kolkata. Supporters shouted slogans against the price hike and called for the resignation of the federal United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

Train services were also hit after activists blocked the movement of trains at different stations during the strike which was supported by Socialist Unity Centre of India party, the NDTV network reported.

Roads in Kolkata were deserted with only some buses and taxis travelling. Most shops and markets in and around the city were also closed.

Although government and private offices were open, attendance was poor. Schools and colleges were also closed during the strike.

Eight buses had been damaged by strike supporters in different parts of the city, PTI news agency reported.

Similar protests were held in other parts of the state. According to police sources, around 250 Trinamul activists were arrested at various places for obstructing rail and road traffic, PTI news agency reported.

The demonstration came as government data showed that food prices have reached a three-year high with the country's annual rate of inflation coming to 7.14 per cent.

Indian consumers have been hit hard with the big jump in prices of lentils, vegetables, edible oils and other essential commodities. (dpa)