Kottayam: The dawn-to-dusk hartal declared by the BJP in Kottayam on Friday was partial, but marred by incidents of violence at various parts in the district. The hartal was observed in protest against the attack on two panchayat members of Kumarakom panchayat allegedly by the CPM men on Thursday.
The hartal supporters destroyed the flexes and posters of the CPM, DYFI and SFI in the town during a march taken out by the BJP district committee. They also destroyed the board of the police association at Thirunakkara and a light put up on a stone pillar. The scooter of Deccan Chronicle photographer Rajeev Prasad had a narrow escape.
The police arrested an RSS activist, Rajeev, 30, of Thrissur for the violence. Rajesh Kumar, 39, a village assistant of the Chengalam village office was attacked by RSS activists. The employees of the village office filed a complaint with the Kumarakom police on the attack.
The KSRTC conducted long-distance services in the district. The local services were stopped after the hartal supporters blocked the vehicles. Private buses also kept off the road putting the public into trouble.
