KANNUR: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Hindu Aikya Vedi and ‘Jnan-odaya Yogam,’ the administrative committee of the Jagannatha temple at Thalassery town, affected life on Saturday. Shops and educational institutions remained closed though vehicles plied.
The hartal was in protest against the ruckus that occurred at the temple committee office on Friday when Jananodaya Yogam president K.P. Rathnakaran was assaulted and admitted to hospital with injuries.
The police registered cases against 20 BJP members who had allegedly ransacked the office. BJP local leader M.P. Sumesh was also booked for allegedly threatening Thalassery SI Anilkumar.
The election to the Jnanadaya Yogam is scheduled to be held on July 28 and political parties, especially the BJP and the CPM, are trying to take control of the committee. The BJP has alleged that Mr Ratnakaran favo-ured the CPM and included fake names in the voters’ list.
Friday was the last day to file nominations papers and a group barged into the committee office and attacked the office-bearers, it is said.
