Kozhikode: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Dalit organizations in the State was partially successful in Kozhikode District, as a few incidents of activists from various Dalit organizations forcefully shutting down shops and other enterprises at SM Street were reported on Monday. However, in Vadakara it was total. Organisations protested the preventive custody of activists belonging to CPI (ML). Later they were released because of the protest.
A few protestors spilled over onto the streets and tried to stop vehicular traffic in the District, mainly at Koyilandy, Kozhikode city, Payoli and Vadakara. It was after the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi had announced that shops would function, that the activists forced all the shops under them to shut, said VVES members. In Vadakara, the shops in the town remained closed here. Though private buses started service in the morning, they stopped before noon after an alert that the buses would be attacked.
Except the courts, government offices in the area were also not operational fully. In the rural areas, buses plied in the morning. On the national highway also, the services of private buses were partial. CPI (ML) Red star activists Stalin, Sreyam Kumar and RK Babu were taken into custody and released later. Activists belonging to Youth Congress, Welfare party, Youth League, SDPI came out in support of the hartal. Shops were completely shut in Kunhippalli, Mukkali, Ayanchery, Villyappally and Kottappally.
Various social service organizations conducted a free vehicle service for stranded passengers. Speaking to mediapersons on Monday, Adv T Siddique said, “The left Government had tried its best to disrupt the peaceful hartal by the Dalit Organizations using the police force and party members. This was indeed a challenge for the Dalit organizations, but they have overcome it, as it was their fight to protect their right.” The Government had insulted their hartal by these activities, he added.
