Kerala police vigilant to hartal call

Thiruvananthapuram: The state police is maintaining a vigil on the social media against the spread of any misleading messages in connection with the hartal called by some fringe Hindu outfits on Monday.

According to police sources, the hartal is unlikely to evoke much response in the state as major pro-Hindu political outfits had distanced themselves from the hartal.

Moreover organisations like the Rama Sena and Hamunan Sena that made the hartal call have no significant presence in Kerala.

In view of a hartal call over the social media by some fringe elements in the state over the Kathua brutal rape and murder, the police was maintaining a vigil on the social media this time as the hartal is also over a sensitive matter - entry of women to Sabarimala.

"Fortunately, no much messages supporting the hartal were found on the social media. There were only queries whether the hartal would be effective," said a senior police officer.

The police also used to carry out counter propaganda of spreading facts through the social media on such issues.

Meanwhile, the police was maintaining a vigil to avert chances of any fringe element sblocking vehicles or trying to trigger law and order problems under the cover of the hartal.

The hartal was called in protest against the state government's stand in favour of entry of women to Sabarimala. The matter is now under the Supreme Court consideration.