UDF hartal hits normal lives in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: The daylong UDF hartal hit the life in the city badly on Wednesday as they blocked and stoned vehicles and attacked government offices. Shops and commercial establishments remained shut and minor tensions were reported from various parts of the district. But there were no casualties.

Contrary to the announcement of the UDF leaders that it would not be a forcible shutdown, its workers engaged in widespread violence blocking vehicles, stoning KSRTC buses, attacking government offices and forcibly shutting shops and commercial establishments, even ATM counters.

Following incidents of attack on KSRTC buses, it cancelled many city services and rescheduled long distance services. Apart from a few auto rickshaws, private buses and taxis kept off the roads.

The hartal enforcers blocked finance minister Thomas Isaac's vehicle at Bakery Junction in the morning forcing the police to chase them away. Chief minister's press secretary Prabha Varma's car was blocked near Palayam.

Hartal supporters vandalised a BSNL office at Vanchiyoor and a Kerala Water Authority executive engineer's office at Medical College.

City police registered five cases, Including deflating tyres of a KSRTC bus at Palayam and pelting stones at KSRTC buses at Museum and Thampanoor.

Rural police registered cases in connection with blocking of the road at over five places in the district, including Balaramapuram, Neyyattinkara, Kanjiramkulam, Nedumangad and Chirayinkeezhu. They also blocked the national highway at Parassala, Kazhakoottam and Attingal.

The hartal supporters forcibly closed many shops and business establishments opened in the morning. Even ATMs near Secretariat were not spared.

Their attempt to forcibly shut a petrol pump of Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation at Statue faced stiff resistance from motorists.

KSRTC offices at Kattakada and Venjaramoodu were attacked, causing damages to computers. A minor tension was also reported from Varkala after CPM workers allegedly rode a vehicle towards a Youth Congress march.

Tension also prevailed in Balaramapuram and Vizhinjam. UDF MLAs, including Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, walked up to the Assembly complex in the morning.