BJP hartal protesting killing of party activist begins

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 13 Buses and autorickshaws were off the roads as the 12-hour state-wide hartal called by the BJP in Kerala to protest against the brutal killing of a 25-year-old party activist in Pinarayi in Kannur began this morning.

Early reports said no untoward incident was reported in any part of the state, including the politically sensitive northern district of Kannur, where there is heavy police patrolling.

BJP activist Remith was hacked to death in the home town of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan yesterday within 48 hours of the murder of a CPI(M) activist and toddy shop worker Mohanan (40) by a six-member gang at Pathiriyad in Kannur district.

Remith's body will be brought from Kozhikode Medical College Hospital after postmortem to Kannur this morning and kept at Thalassery new bus stand for public to pay homage at around 10.30 AM before cremation.

This is the second hartal in Kannur district within 3 days as the CPI(M) had observed a hartal in protest against the murder of their worker.

IGP Northern Range, Dinendra Kashyap said over 2000 police personnel have been mobilised in Kannur. Those who have gone on leave have been asked to report for duty, he told PTI.

There is simmering tension and more police personnel have been deployed at places where the body will be kept for public homage, he said.

Meanwhile, police have registered cases against 10 CPI(M) workers in connection with the attack on Remith. A special squad under DYSP (Administration) T P Renjith has been formed to investigate the case.

Police have made special arrangements to take patients, who had come by trains from various parts of the state for treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre Hospital in the state capital. BJP activists will be taking out a march to the Secretariat at 11 AM.

Examinations which were to be conducted today by Kerala, Kannur, Calicut and Cochin Universities have been postponed due to the hartal.

PTI