Dawn-to dusk hartal observed in Thrissur district

Thrissur, Apr 17 (UNI) A dawn-to-dusk hartal observed in the district today to protest against the killing of a local CPI(M) leader was total.

The hartal call was given by the party after its leader K P Valsalan (45), Chavakkad Municipal chairman, was hacked to death by armed assailants near Chavakkad late last evening.

The condition of the injured, Chavakkad Municipal public works standing committee chairman and the DYFI block secretary A H Akbar, who was also attacked by the assailants, is still serious, according to hospital sources.

Meanwhile, hundreds of party workers paid last respects to the deceased when his body was brought here from the Medical College Hospital after post-mortem. Later it was taken to Chavakkad, his home town, for the funeral.

The situation following the incident is still tense in the entire Chavakkad-Guruvayur region.

CPI(M) leader E P Jayarajan alleged at a media conference here today that efforts were being made to create disturbance in the area during election period by attacking party functionaries.

UNI XR AD1844