Kerala - Kannur   

BJP hartal affects life in Malabar

Hartal fallout: A deserted road in a usually busy area of Kannur town on Thursday as shops remained closed owing to the State-wide hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

KANNUR: The 12-hour State-wide hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest against the Railways’ alleged neglect of the State was near total in the district.

The hartal affected normal life here as vehicles, including KSRTC and private buses, kept off the road and shops remained closed. The hartal also hit the functioning of government offices.

Staff Reporter writes from Malappuram:

The hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday in protest against the formation of the Salem railway division evoked a poor response in Malappuram district.

However, in areas such as Angadipuram, Ramapuram, Tanur, Tirur, Parappanangadi and Vallikkunnu, where the party has a strong presence, the hartal was near total. Mini buses and private vehicles ran services as usual, and shops and business establishments were open, except in BJP strongholds. Attendance in government offices was poor.

Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses and long-haul private buses kept off the road. Schools and other educational institutions did not function. Calicut University postponed its examinations.

Hartal supporters threw stones at Mubarak English Medium School at Tiruvali, near Wandoor.

Staff Reporter writes from Palakkad:

The 12-hour hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest against the inauguration of the Salem Railway Division on Thursday was total in the district with some stray incidents of violence. The hartal was also in protest against the neglect of railway development in the State, the Central government’s failure to start work on the Integrated Railway Coach Factory promised at Palakkad and the creation of a railway zone for Kerala.

The public and private transport vehicles were off the road. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) did not operate its services.

The inter-State bus service also did not operate and the buses from Tamil Nadu was terminated at the Walayar inter-State border.

Shops, markets and business establishments remained closed. Government offices worked with thin attendance.

Most banks opened in the morning but the hartal supporters forced them to close. At Kanjikode, the police scared away the BJP workers who tried to block traffic on the NH at Koyyamarakadu. BJP worker Manikandan was injured when he fell down while running away from the advancing police force.

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