Most shops and establishments remained closed in Puducherry on Wednesday in response to the call given by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for a day-long bandh to urge the Centre to grant statehood for the Union Territory.

Secretary of the Puducherry unit of AIADMK (East) A Anbalagan, who gave the call for the shutdown, was taken into custody along with his supporters at his office in the early hours today.