Hartal total, largely peaceful in State
The Hindu
Normal life disrupted with shops, business establishments remaining shut
The dawn-to-dusk hartal in Kerala on Monday, expressing solidarity with the Samyukt Kisan Morcha’s nationwide strike call and backed by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), was near-total but largely peaceful.
Normal life was disrupted with shops and business establishments remaining shut and public transport keeping off the road. Private vehicles plied. Attendance was low in government offices.
Largely peaceful, the 6 a.m.-6 p.m. hartal was also marked by isolated incidents of violence. In Kozhikode, the staff of an Asianet broadband franchise were allegedly manhandled by hartal supporters. Near Pallichal, Thiruvananthapuram, hartal supporters allegedly manhandled the manager of a petrol pump.