Kerala - Alappuzha   

Hartal near-total in Alappuzha

— PHOTO: K. K. Najeeb

DESERTED: The normally busy Market Road in Thrissur wears a deserted look on Friday, the day of the hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party in protest against price rise.

ALAPPUZHA: The nationwide hartal protesting the price rise called by the Bharatiya Janata Party was near total in Alappuzha district, with a majority of shops remaining closed and most vehicles staying off the roads. No untoward incidents were reported, police said.

A few shops, including hotels, groceries and pan-shops in the Zakaria Bazaar region in the town remained open from morning while the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operated services from its Alappuzha, Cherthala, Chengannur and Kayamkulam depots with the help of police convoys. However, there were few passengers and very few buses were operated. On the other hand, the State Water Transport Department’s daily services from Alappuzha to Kavalam, Nedumudi, Kottayam and Krishnapuram did not operate at all.

There was slight tension when BJP activists forcibly closed down the Boat Jetty branch of a private bank in the morning. However, large numbers of policemen in crucial spots of the town avoided further incidents.

The unusual sight of passengers at the Alappuzha Railway station being ferried to their destinations by two-wheelers was also witnessed. However, several youngsters on two-wheelers were demanding charges ranging from Rs.30 to Rs.100 for the service.

The BJP’s various units conducted marches in major towns in the district from morning.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Hartal near-total in Alappuzha
CPI(M) leader quits party

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu