Kerala was subjected to one of the most violent hartals in its history when CPM activists went on the rampage in different parts of the state on Thursday protesting against the arrest of its Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan.
Northern Kerala was the worst affected. In Kasargod, a DYFI worker P Manoj, 24, was killed in clashes. In Palakkad, a CPM supporter, Shanmukham, 44, collapsed and died while taking part in a protest demonstration.
Hartal supporters targeted police stations, rival party offices, government and media offices and indulged in violent clashes with political opponents. According to Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, 57 police personnel were injured and 20 police stations attacked by the CPM activists across the state. They allegedly ransacked 57 Congress and 18 IUML offices. As many as 22 KSRTC buses were damaged. Over 200 incidents of violence were reported.
The protest crippled normal life with public modes of transport keeping off the road and offices functioning with thin attendance. Shops and businesses remained shut.
Manoj Kumar, 24, unit president of DYFI at Cheekanam in Kasargod district, died in hospital where he was admitted after a scuffle with IUML supporters. The DYFI leaders alleged that Manoj died of serious injuries when he was attacked by Muslim League workers and called a ‘Black Day’ on Thursday.
The situation was tense in northern districts since Wednesday where security was stepped up and two companies of Central Rapid Action Force were brought in. The two contingents of the CRPF brought from Coimbatore were kept ready for deployment at the KAP camp, Managattuparamba.
Violent clashes involving the supporters of the hartal and the police and rival political parties including Congress and the Muslim League took place at several places in Kannur and Kozhikode. The police used grenades to disperse violent groups at Bakkalam near Taliparamba, Mattanur and Payyanur.
A group of alleged CPM workers hurled country-bombs at the Payyanur police station on Wednesday night, but the cops escaped unhurt.
CPM activists attacked Congress and Muslim League offices, blockaded roads, and confronted police at Nadappuram, Vadakkara, Kuttiadi and nearby areas.
In Thiruvananthapuram, two KSRTC employees were manhandled at Nedumangad. In Kattakada, four cases were registered, including an attack on the station master’s office in KSRTC depot and an attack in Congress office.
Incidents of violence were also reported from various pockets in the state capital.
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