KOZHIKODE: The daylong hartal called by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday protesting the alleged manhandling of Mahija, the mother of Jishnu Prannoy, the engineering student who had died under mysterious circumstances in January, threw normal life out of gear in the district. Shops, markets, and business establishments remained closed. The protest staged by Yuva Morcha in front of the police commissioner's office ended up in a battle with the police after an officer with his lathi assaulted an activist. They arrested 10 YM activists.
UDF supporters stop a vehicle in Kozhikode on Thursday. (Photo: DC)
The police fired water cannon to disperse protesters trying to break barricades. However, the activists made attempts to get their way through. Following this, the police resorted to lathi charge, forcing them to retreat. The worst affected were traders expecting a brisk business as the festival season was approaching. The normally crowded bus stands looked deserted as both the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), and private buses stayed off the roads.
Since KSRTC also decided to keep off, commuters from far away places were in trouble. Even the free vehicle services provided by the social groups were not allowed. Around 10 am the UDF activists started their protest rally from Commissioner Office and closed down all the shops and offices that were open and stopped vehicles seen on the roads.
