Thiruvananthapuram: Minor incidents of high-handedness by protesters were reported in the dawn to dusk hartal organised against alleged police excesses against the mother of Jishnu Prannoy. An executive magistrate who was travelling in his official car was obstructed by protesters at Panjapura junction near Palayam, police control room officials said. Private vehicles were obstructed at Thiruvallam, Parassala and Vizhinjam, mostly by UDF workers.
The passengers were forced to return to their homes at Vizhinjam junction. UDF activists also attempted to close down government and cooperative organisations at Kanjiramkulam and Nedumangad. Low attendance was recorded in all government institutions. Both the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had announced the hartal. However, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor supported KPCC vice president V.D. Satheeshan who openly protested against the hartal.
Congress leaders block vehicles as part of the 12-hour-long hartal in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. (Photo: A.V. MUZAFAR)
“Glad to see senior KPCC leader objecting to Indian National Congress’ ill-considered decision to call a Hartal. Anti-social behaviour is unworthy of us,” the Thiruvananthapuram MP said. Transport officials said that the KSRTC and other public transport vehicles kept of the roads from 6am. Fuel pumps including Supplyco run outlets were closed down. Interstate services were delayed for hours. Police reached out to over 1500 people by operating free vehicle services to the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) and Medical College Hospital.
