Private buses to go on strike in Kozhikode, Ernakulam on July 10

Kozhikode, July 9 (UNI) Private buses in Kozhikode and Ernakulam districts in Kerala will be off the roads tomorrow following a strike call given by Kerala State Bus Operators Association (KSBOA) in protest against attacks on their offices early today.

The 24 hour strike will begin from midnight tonight in protest against attacks on their offices in this district and Ernakulam allegedly by the activists of pro-congress Kerala Students Union (KSU), KSBOA Secretary A K Abdulla told reporters here.

The KSBOA also reiterated its decision to withdraw students' travel concessions in the state with effect from July 15, he said.

He said, they were compelled to deny the facility to students following the government's failure to revise students' concession imposed more than four decades ago resulting in serious financial crunch for the private bus operators in the state.

The operators would go on indefinite agitation if the government failed to resolve the crisis and prevent such ''vandalism'' on their offices, he added.

Meanwhile, the KSU today said, they would continue agitation against the bus operators if the concessions enjoyed by them since 1964 would withdrawn.

KSU District President I P Rajesh told reporters here that private buses would be blocked throughout the district if they went ahead with the decision to deny concessions to student community.

UNI