Veerappan: Has held Rajkumar since end of July

IT companies were closed along with educational and business establishments.

Only government offices, railways and state-run transport offices were reported to be open, but operating with a skeleton staff.

Observers said many people preferred to stay away from work out of fear rather than in support of the kidnapped actor.

Some of the protests immediately after his kidnapping turned violent.

There was heavy security in the city for the strike, with some 6,000 police patrolling the streets.

Officials said more than 10,000 policemen had been deployed across the state as a whole.

Freed

Rajkumar was kidnapped at the end of July by the notorious bandit, Veerappan, and prolonged negotiations have failed to secure his release.

In another development, one of the three men taken hostage with Rajkumar has returned home.

Police told the BBC that the hostage, Maradagi Nagappa, reached his village in Tamil Nadu on Thursday evening.

However, it was not clear yet whether Mr Nagappa was freed or he escaped from captivity.

Senior police officers have rushed to the village to meet him.

Appeal

In a tape brought back on Wednesday from the jungle hideout where he is being held, Rajkumar appealed to his supporters to call off the strike.

I do not want you to cause any trouble to either the government or the people

Rajkumar

He said in the tape that he did not want to cause any disruption or see any violence.

"If you were to strike... it will inconvenience the general public and I do not want you to cause any trouble to either the government or the people," he said.

Rajkumar's family and supporters are increasingly angry at his prolonged kidnapping, and the apparent inability of the authorities to secure his release.

A government emissary, RR Gopal, has made several trips to the jungle where Rajkumar is being held.

Resolution

A resolution to the crisis appeared to be in sight last month, when the authorities agreed to release several jailed associates of Veerappan from prison.

But the move was blocked by the Supreme Court in Delhi after a petition was filed by the father of a policeman killed by Veerappan.

A further hearing has been scheduled for 11 October.

Veerappan is one of India's most wanted men.

He is charged with murdering more than 100 people and is wanted for elephant poaching and sandalwood smuggling.