Kolkata, July 17 - A 12-hour shutdown called by the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee crippled life across the state as hundreds of Congress supporters blockaded roads and staged demonstrations Friday.

'The shutdown has been peaceful so far. We've not received any report of untoward incidents in any part of the state,' Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told IANS.

Sources said a bus was damaged by Congress activists Friday morning at Baguihati near Kolkata's Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Later, Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed at the spot to bring the situation under control.

'As of now, we've not received any such report. Maybe we will get it in the next few hours,' Kanojia said.

Train services were also disrupted due to the shutdown. Many long-distance and local trains were halted midway following protests by Congress supporters.

A number of short-distance trains like Biswabharati Fast Passenger, Asansol-Haldia Express, Howrah-Purulia Express and Steel Express were stopped at different railway stations due to blockade of tracks.

The state Congress leadership said the 12-hour shutdown had been called in 12 of the 19 districts of West Bengal.