Western Ghats report: LDF hartal hits normal life in Kerala

The hartal has hit normal life in Malabar region, including Kannur, Kasargod, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode districts, says reports..

Buses, taxis, trucks, and autorickshaws remained off roads and KSRTC did not operate services in the early hours.

Government has ensured tight security in areas like Thamarassery and Adivaram (Kozhikode), which had witnessed violence in past days,

People living in highrage areas has extended their support to the hartal. Areas in districts like Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, and Idukki have already seen several hartal-like siruations in past weeks.

The High Range Protection Council in Idukki has called for a 48-hour ‘Occupy the Streets' protest in the district from Sunday midnight. In Kozhikode, Wayanad etc, the apprehensions about the report being implemented has given way for violent protests. Last day, a shop was set ablaze in Thamarassery and several buses were damaged.

Although chief minister Oommen Chandy gave repeated assurances to the protestors, LDF and Highrange Protection council decided to go ahead with their hartal plan.

Pastoral letter of Thamarassery diocese warns of dire consequences if Kasturi rangan report is implemented.

CM said the government needs time to look at the major objections to the panel's recommendations.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a constituent of ruling UDF, has demanded that the report be rectified immediately. The report, the say, would adversely affect the livelihood of 22 lakh of people in 123 villages across the state.

Meanshile, state home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan said the hartal is politically motivated.
Though the LDF leadership has made it clear that the hartal would be peaceful, there are chances of violence and destruction of public properties.

OneIndia News
(With agency inputs)