Kochi: The hartal called by Hindu organisations in Thrikkakara on Wednesday to protest the bomb blast near a camp of Ayyappa devotees near the Seaport-Airport road, passed off without any serious trouble.
It did inconvenience to the travelling public, however, who were forced to terminate their bus journey midway and walk long distances.
Organisers of the hartal, the Hindu Aikya Vedi and Viswa Hindu Parishad led marches in the area and blocked roads, including the Seaport-Airport road.
The driver of a private bus was injured in stone pelting near Chembumukku.
Most shops remained closed but some schools functioned.
The bomb was concealed in a steel mug and went off around 11 in the night on Tuesday.
The Hindu organisations accused the police of not conducting a serious investigation.
It has been pointed out that the intention behind the bomb was to trigger communal tension in the area, which has an almost equal number of Hindus and Muslims.
District Collector P I Sheikh Pareeth said that the incident was a wake-up call for the police to strengthen patrolling and security in key spots of the district.
