KOTTAYAM: The day-long hartal in Idukki district, called by the UDF in protest against violence during the elections to the Kattappana Service Cooperative Bank, was total and barring stray incidents of violence, peaceful in the district.
Barring a few private vehicles, vehicular traffic in the district remained paralysed. Though the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation(KSRTC) ran a few services in convoy system to Ernakulam, Kottayam andKozhikode, it was withdrawn as the day went by. The attendance in government offices was minimal and commercial life came to a standstill as the small shopkeepers even in rural areas kept their shutters down.
According to the police, they have charged four cases for violence in connection with the hartal. Two person have been arrested and remanded to custody in Idukki for attacking the official vehicle of the Additional District Magistrate. The vehicle was going to take the ADM to office. Another six persons have been booked for petty violence in connection with the hartal in Painavu, the police said.
In Nedumkandom, cases have been charged against five persons for attacking the media team from a local TV channel.
Another case has been charged by Vandiperiyar police against persons who forcibly tried to close down a warehouse by locking up the official at the office.
According to the police, four incidents of violence have been reported from Kattappana. Speaking to The Hindu, the DCC president P. T. Thomas said that the hartal was peaceful and the popular support was unprecedented.
“Even in tiny hamlets, shops remained closed,” he said. Mr. Thomas alleged that for the past two or more years the atmosphere in Idukki was witnessing an unusual situation where only the CPI(M) was getting justice from the police. Even the LDF partner CPI, was accusing the police of partisanship, he said.
According to Mr. Thomas, the incidents on Sunday was only the latest in a series of incidents of political violence in the district perpetrated by the CPI(M).
A massive protest march was being planned for Tuesday at Kattappana.