THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Several clashes have been reported across the state in connection with the hartal declared by Sabarimala Karma Samithi. Journalists were also attacked by hartal supporters. Asianet News cameraman Baiju V Mathew was injured in the clash. The protesters attacked CPI district committee office in Palakkad and damaged several vehicles.

CPM office was attacked in Panthalam. Police used teargas in Malappiram. Bombs were thrown in Thalasseri. Hartal supporters tried to close the Indian Coffee House in Kannur forcefully. However, CPM activists stopped their attempt.

Meantime, three BJP activists have been stabbed in Thrissur during a clash between SDPI and BJP. Journalists have decided to boycott BJP events and marches including BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai’s press meet. CPM offices were attacked in Thavanoor and Ernakulam. EMS library in Palakkad was also set on fire. CPM office in Pullad in Pathanamthitta and BJP office in Neeleswaram was also attacked.

The standoff on Sabarimala showed no signs of ending even as Hindu outfits called for a state-wide shutdown on Thursday, amid protests at several places after entry of two women into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. The 12-hour hartal, which began at 6 am, has been called by Sabarimala Karma Samithi, an umbrella organisation of various pro-Hindutva groups, spearheading protests against the Supreme Court's September 28 verdict, and Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad (AHP). The BJP is supporting the shutdown while the Congress-led UDF is observing a "black day" on Thursday.