Kerala   

Hartal disrupts life in State

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 12-hour hartal called by the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the State on Tuesday in protest against the rise in prices of essential commodities has disrupted normal life in the State.

Over 50 Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and two private buses were damaged in stone-throwing. Seventy-seven persons were arrested in connection with various incidents. Government and KSRTC offices came under attack by the protestors. Functioning of banks and government offices was paralysed. Educational institutions remained closed.

Violent incidents were reported from Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur and Kozhikode. Violence erupted when hartal supporters tried to forcibly close shops and attacked buses and private vehicles while taking out demonstrations. Two persons were arrested in Thrissur town for attempting to close shops by force. Function of industrial units in Kochi was affected, but the offloading of cargo as well as clearing operations were carried out. Movement of cargo was disrupted due to non-availability of carriers. The hartal did not make any impact on the functioning of FACT and BPCL.

A group of people turned out the employees of LIC divisional office and the sub-treasury in Kottayam. Movement of private vehicles was also disrupted in the district. Traders called for a hartal at Bharanikavu in Alappuzha district on Wednesday in protest against the attack on shops. While taking out a march to the Secretariat, the UDF activists threw stones at shops at East Fort.

A KSRTC bus driver Karunakaran Nair was seriously injured in stone-throwing at Kanyakulangara. The canteen at Neyatinkara bus station was also targeted by the protestors.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy and the UDF should apologise to the public for calling a hartal. The UDF activists vent their ire against the public who rejected the hartal call.

The inflation was due to the policies of the Central government and the protest of the Congress which was in power at the Centre was a paradox. He accused the UDF leadership of resorting to violence all over the State. The UDF was trying to draw public attention before the Assembly session by creating violence.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran said the public rejected the hartal call. Mr. Divakaran accused the Congress activists of incurring huge loss to the exchequer by attacking government offices in Thrissur and Kozhikode. The violent incidents were a reply to UDF convener P.P. Thankachan who claimed that the hartal would be peaceful, the Minister said.

KTDC chairman Cheriyan Phillip said the UDF activists intimidated and abused tourists and attacked their vehicles at Kundamangalam, Vythiri, Adimali and Kottayam.

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