Nithin Raj death: Hartal disrupts normal life in parts of Kerala

T'puram/Kozhikode/Kottayam: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Nithin Raj Action Council and various dalit and adivasi organizations, demanding the arrest of those responsible for the death of the BDS student at Kannur dental college, disrupted normal life amid incidents of vehicle blockades, protests and sporadic police action in state. Several students, who were scheduled to write VIT entrance exam, were unable to reach their centres on time. Police sources said 29 cases were registered in Kerala over hartal-related incidents and 100 people were taken into custody.But it didn't disrupt normal life across Malabar. Public transport remained largely unaffected, while shops, business establishments, govt and private institutions functioned as usual. But rural areas saw a greater impact, with protesters blocking traffic and forcing shops to shut in several places.Despite organizers assuring that vehicles will not be forcibly stopped and shops will not be forced to down shutters, the situation changed as protesters blocked vehicles at many locations. In the state capital, hartal supporters blocked a KSRTC bus at Thampanoor. At Kaniyapuram and Nedumangad, buses were stopped mid route, disrupting public transport.Vehicles, including an ambulance, were caught in a blockade at Thirunakkara in Kottayam. In Adoor, police used force to remove agitators who blocked cars. The hartal was complete in Pathanamthitta and private buses kept off the roads. Strike supporters closed shops, banks and govt offices that opened in the morning.At Adoor, a verbal altercation occurred between Pathanamthitta resident Rincy and some protesters at KSRTC's bus stand on Tuesday. She had reached Adoor from Bengaluru with her baby and two relatives and the issue arose when protesters blocked the bus they were supposed to board. Rincy told them they were travelling since midnight with a sick baby and were unaware of the strike. The protesters responded that information about the strike was provided in the media 10 days ago. She got upset, argued with them and eventually called her relatives. They left in a private vehicle later. In Kozhikode, incidents of vehicle obstruction by hartal supporters were reported in Balussery, Perambra, and Ulliyeri. In Perambra, shops were shut and protesters forced private/govt institutions and banks that had opened to down shutters. In Koorachundu, hartal supporters shut shops and establishments that were open. Police intervened in Perambra to remove those blocking vehicles. In Ulliyeri, there was a complaint that a bus passenger assaulted a hartal supporter. Police said no violent incidents occurred within Kozhikode city and rural limits.Private buses and KSRTC operated services. Barring a few routes where services were slightly reduced in the morning, buses ran as usual, said Bus Transport Association's district general secretary Thualsi Das. Autos, taxis and goods vehicles were seen on the roads. In city, hartal supporters held a march from BEM School to the commissioner's office in the morning. They were later taken into preventive custody.In Kannur, protesters blockaded Caltex junction and staged a sit-in. Police arrested them after 30 minutes. Police took protesters, who tried to forcibly close shops in Payyannur, into custody.In Kasaragod, hartal supporters tried to stop private buses at Cheemeni and Cheruvathur for some time but police intervened to restore traffic. Police took a protester who tried to block vehicles at Little Flower School in Puthiyakotta. KSRTC buses and vehicular traffic were stopped at Panathur and Parappa where shops remained closed in some areas.In Ernakulam and Thiruvalla hartal supporters blocked vehicles at key junctions. In Chengannur, protesters gathered outside the joint RTO office, opposing the conduct of learner's licence tests. MVD confirmed that all 33 candidates who appeared for the test were allowed to complete it.In Thiruvalla, protesters blocked a cancer patient who was on his way to Kottayam Medical College. They wanted to see his medical documents. Another vehicle ferrying medicine was blocked. Police intervened and allowed the vehicles to pass.