Violence continued to rock the district even as the hartal organised by the CPM in protest against the arrest of its district secretary brought normal life to a standstill on Thursday.
Reports of attacks on government offices, police stations, and party offices were pouring in from various regions of the district here right from the morning. More than 30 offices of different political parties, mainly those of Congress and Muslim League, were attacked by the CPM activists. Three CPM offices too were attacked by rival parties.
Two companies of CRPF personnel were sent to the district here on Thursday by the Centre following a request made by the state government. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran had stated on Wednesday night that the Central government was ready to send further contingents of Central forces to the state on the basis of the requirements of the state.
The two contingents of the CRPF brought from Coimbatore reached here early on Thursday morning. They were kept ready for deployment at the KAP camp, Managattuparamba. Meanwhile, violent clashes involving the supporters of the hartal and the police and rival political parties including Congress and the Muslim League had taken place at several places during the hartal. The police used grenades to disperse violent mobs of supporters of the hartal at Bakkalam near Taliparamba, Mattanur and Payyanur.
An alleged group of CPM workers had hurled country-bombs at the Payyanur police station on Wednesday night, but the cops escaped unhurt in the attack.
At the same time, the police filed cases against CPM leaders including M V Jayarajan and P K Sreemathy and 250 others in connection with the demonstration held on Wednesday protesting against the arrest of P Jayarajan, in violation of the prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC prevailing in the district.
Government offices, educational institutions, and shops and commercial establishment remained closed as a result of the hartal. The public transport system remained paralysed as private and KSRTC buses, taxis and autorickshaws kept off the roads.
Party Offices Attacked in Kozhikode
The hartal called by the CPM on Thursday witnessed sporadic incidents of violence in several parts of Kozhikode district and threw the public life out of gear.
CPM activists attacked Congress and Muslim League Party offices, blockaded the roads, and confronted with police at Nadapuram, Vadakara, Kuttiadi and nearby areas. Attacks have left several policemen and activists injured.
In the city limits, four policemen got injured when stones were pelted by CPM activists at the police jeep at Vengeri. A case was also registered at the Chevayur police station in connection with the attack. Four persons were injured when CPM and IUML activists confronted each other at Irangallur under the Nadapuram Police Station limits. Three policemen were injured at Kummangode near Nadapuram after clashes with the hartal supporters.
Policemen Hurt in Malappuram
Inspector of Police and two Sub Inspectors were injured in the hartal day violence in Malappuram district.
Tirurangadi Inspector of Police Umesh A was injured in stone-pelting and admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital with head injury. He was attacked at Pallikkal, when he was on duty. Thenhipalam SI Balagangadharan and a civil police officer, Jinraj, were also injured in the incident. Parappanangadi SI N C Mohanan was injured in a CPM-IUML clash at Palathingal. Another police personnel was also injured in the attack.
Hartal Complete in Kasargod
One person was killed and many injured in stray incidents of violence across Kasargod district in the 12-hour hartal declared on Thursday. A police jeep was stoned near Government UP School in Kasargod town following which police used grenade and lathi charge to control the angry demonstrators who destroyed police barricades.
The demonstrations held in the town was led by Kasargod district panchayat president P P Shyamla Devi, T K Rajan and C H Kunhambu. The protest march commenced from New Bus Stand culminated at Nullipady in Kasargod town.
The situation was similar in other centres of the district including Kanhangad and Nileswaram.
Widespread Violence in Alappuzha
The hartal was marked by violence and vandalism in Alappuzha district on Thursday. The day witnessed buses getting stoned and vandalism of public and private property. It has been alleged that CPM activists were behind the attacks.
Many KSRTC buses were stoned in the district, following which KSRTC suspended its services in the district. The Indira Gandhi statue located at the Pichu Ayyar Junction was damaged by miscreants.
A petrol station in Thuravoor was also attacked.
Travancore Club Attacked in Tiruvalla The hartal called by the CPM turned violent as some hartal followers attacked the kitchen and robbed the liquor outlet of Travancore Club in Tiruvalla on Thursday. The kitchen was opened to prepare food for the participants of a Badminton tournament that was to be held at the club on the hartal day.
The agitators also demolished the notice board and glass windows of the Travancore Sugar factory at Pulikkezhu and destroyed a flag post of Indian National Trade Union Congress.
Hartal Total in Kottayam
The hartal was total in Kottayam district. Shops and business establishments remained closed in almost all parts of the district, including the remote rural areas, in view of the hartal call.
Sporadic violence was reported from Changanassery, Vaikom, Ettumanoor and Kanjirappally.
Heavy and light motor vehicles, except those heading to attend the funeral procession of Mavelikkara Bishop Paulose Mar Pachomios and those carrying hospital-bound patients, kept off the roads.
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