Protestors clash with police during UDF hartal in Wayanad; police arrest and remove Congress workers

KALPETTA: A clash broke out in Lakkidi after the hartal observed by the UDF begins in Wayanad Thursday morning. The clash broke out when the police tried to stop the UDF workers from blocking vehicles in Lakkidi. The police took into custody Vythiri ward member Jyothish. The police arrested and removed the hartal supporters. With this, traffic in Lakkidi was restored.

The UDF is observing hartal, alleging that the government is not taking action to prevent continuous wildlife attacks in Wayanad. A hartal was observed in Wayanad the other day under the leadership of the Farmers Relief Forum and the Trinamool Congress. Essential services have been excluded from today's hartal. Private bus operators have decided not to operate services in the district considering the possibility of clashes.

Milk, newspapers, exams, weddings and hospitals have been excluded from the hartal. Long-distance bus services started from the Bathery KSRTC stand in the morning. LDF leaders came forward criticizing UDF's hartal. The LDF also held Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi and former MP Rahul Gandhi responsible for the wildlife attacks.