PFI hartal: Union Home Ministry seeks reports from Kerala govt on incidents of violence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the state government on the hartal held in the state on Friday in protest against the arrest of Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders. The Centre's action comes after reports of violence throughout the state during the hartal.

Several KSRTC buses were damaged by stone pelting during the hartal. Many policemen and KSRTC drivers were injured. Private vehicles were also attacked. 157 cases of violence related to hartal were registered in the state n Friday. 170 people were arrested and accused of such violent incidents. In a press release, the police informed that 368 people have been detained.

In Kannur, a hartal supporter smashed a busy Milma tea stall around 4 pm on Friday. A person who came on a bike approached the shop and smashed the shelf containing the food items using a rod. A migrant worker who was working near it was injured in the incident.

Apart from Kannur city, there was also violence at Pallottupalli in Mattannur where hartal supporters hurled petrol bombs at a truck. The window of the truck, which was on its way to Thalassery from Iritty, was broken. The driver escaped unhurt. Officials stated that 70 KSRTC buses were also damaged at various places.