Clash at Jagannatha temple triggers strike

KANNUR: The dawn-to-dusk  hartal called by Hindu Aikya Vedi and ‘Jnan-odaya Yogam,’  the administrative committee of the Jagannatha temple  at Thalassery town,  affected life on Saturday.  Shops and educational institutions remained closed though  vehicles plied.  

The hartal was in protest against the ruckus that occurred at the  temple committee office on Friday  when  Jananodaya Yogam president K.P. Rathnakaran  was assaulted and  admitted to hospital with injuries.  

The police registered cases against 20 BJP members who had allegedly ransacked the office.   BJP local leader M.P. Sumesh  was also booked for allegedly threatening Thalassery SI  Anilkumar.

The election to the Jnanadaya Yogam is scheduled to be held on July 28 and political parties, especially the BJP and the CPM, are trying to take control of the committee.  The BJP has alleged  that  Mr Ratnakaran  favo-ured the CPM and  included  fake names  in the voters’ list.

Friday was the last day to file nominations papers and a group barged into  the committee office and attacked the office-bearers, it is said.