Hartal violence: 170 persons arrested in the state; 368 persons put under preventive detention, 157 cases registered

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As many as 157 cases were registered in the state in connection with the hartal called in the state today by the Popular Front of India. Police have arrested 170 people as accused in various incidents of violence. The police also informed that 368 persons have been put under preventive detention.

(in order of district, number of cases registered, arrest and preventive detention)

• Thiruvananthapuram City 12, 11, 3
• Thiruvananthapuram Rural 10, 2, 15
• Kollam City 9, 0, 6
• Kollam Rural 10, 8, 2
• Pathanamthitta 11, 2, 3
• Alappuzha 4, 0, 9
• Kottayam 11, 87, 8
• Idukki 3, 0, 3
• Ernakulam City 6, 4, 16
• Ernakulam Rural 10, 3, 3
• Thrissur City 6, 0, 2
• Thrissur Rural 2, 0, 5
• Palakkad 2, 0, 34
• Malappuram 9, 19, 118
• Kozhikode City 7, 0, 20
• Kozhikode Rural 5, 4, 23
• Wayanad 4, 22, 19
• Kannur City 28, 1, 49
• Kannur Rural 2, 1, 2
• Kasaragod 6, 6, 28

Kerala witnessed widespread violence during the hartal called by the Popular Front. A Milma tea stall was attacked and destroyed by the protesters in Kannur. The incident occurred at 4 pm. The attackers came on bikes and one person alighted near the tea stall and smashed the glass cupboard with an iron rod. A migrant worker, working there got injured after being hit by glass pieces. Though the owner of the tea stall ran behind the attacker, he quickly fled the scene on the bike waiting for him. Attacks were also reported from Matannur where protesters threw a petrol bomb on a lorry that was coming to Thalassery from Iritty. Fortunately, the driver escaped unhurt.