Agitation paralyses functioning of banks, Collectorate in Kasaragod; isolated cases of hartal supporters intercepting vehicles in Kannur

The hartal called by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in protest against the police action against the mother and relatives of Jishnu Pranoy was total and peaceful in the district.

Shops and business establishments remained closed. Public vehicles kept off the road while private vehicles and two-wheelers were seen plying on the roads.

Peruvanam and Arattupuzha poorams; Kripabhishekam programme at Amballur, and the Chettuva Chandanakudam nercha were excluded from the hartal. Hartal supporters took out processions in various places in the district.

No untoward incidents

Special Correspondent writes from Kannur: The dawn-to-dusk hartal was near total in Kannur.

The hartal, though peaceful, affected the normal life of people as shops were closed and public transport vehicles remained mostly off the road. There were isolated cases of hartal supporters intercepting vehicles. But there were no untoward incidents in connection with the hartal, the police said.

Train passengers who reached the railway station here were stranded. UDF and BJP workers took out separate marches here in the morning in support of the hartal.

Altercations

Staff Reporter writes from Kasaragod: Barring minor altercations, the day-long hartal called by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday in protest against the alleged police excess on the relatives of Jishnu Pranoy in the State capital evoked total response in the district.

With all modes of public transport, including those run by the Kerala and Karnataka Road Transport Corporation buses keeping off the roads, people were stranded at various points, including railway stations.

The hartal also paralysed the functioning of banks as many employees could not reach their workplaces. Even private vehicles, including two-wheelers, did not venture out.

The hartal also hit the functioning of the Collectorate as only a few employees reported for duty. Shops, hotels, and other business outlets remained closed.

Lathicharge

Some hartal supporters tried to waylay vehicles and trucks plying on national and link roads, forcing the police to resort to lathicharge at the Mangad locality near Uduma.

At some places, the police were seen engaged in heated altercations with the protesters.

In yet another incident, the police took a group of UDF activists in custody as they tried to force the closure of the mini-civil station at Kanhangad.

The protesters returned only after getting assurance from the Hosdurg tahasildar that he would order the closure of the offices at the mini-civil station.