THIRUVANNATHAPURAM: The hartal called by Sabarinmala Karma Samithy and various other organisations in Kerala against the recent entry of two young women in Sabrimala temple turned the State into a battle ground with BJP and CPM men clashing and indulging in street fights.

Three BJP activists were stabbed amidst a clash at Vadanappally in Thrissur. Sujith, Sreejith and Ratheesh were stabbed in a scuffle between the BJP and the SDPI. They have been admitted in the hospital with serious injuries. SDPI activists are behind the attack, alleged BJP leadership.

The protestors owing allegiance to the hartal staged a protest march at Vadanapally. They directed shops to close down shutters but when they came back after the march, the shops were not closed and provoked over it, they attacked the shop. Three were stabbed when a clash broke out when SDPI activists reached the spot. They were soon taken to the hospital. A large contingent of police has been deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incidents.

Normal life has been crippled. KSRTC buses and autos were attacked in many places. The offices of the CPM and BJP were attacked. Many protestors were taken into custody in Idukki and Ernakulam.

An activist of Sabarimala Karma Samithi attending a protest march at Pandalam died last evening after stones were pelted from the CPM office. After post-mortem, the body of Chandran Unnithan will be taken to Pandalam. A tense situation is prevailing here. Five houses of CPM activists were attacked in Pandalam.

Widespread violence was reported from many parts of the state. The media was attacked in the capital city during a march staged by BJP activists. In protest over the incident, they stopped reporting BJP programmes. However in some places hotels and shops were opened. Only some emergency services and private vehicles are seen on roads. A bomb was hurled in front of Nedumangad police station. Bomb was hurdled thrice seeking the release of three accused taken into custody. Widespread attacks were witnessed towards the houses of CPM activists.

Protestors unleashed violence at the offices of the CPM and the CPI. Five bikes and two cars parked in front of the CPI office in Palakkad were damaged. The window panes of the office were also smashed. The attack was witnessed when the activists who gathered near the Victoria College were about to disperse after staging a march. Stones were pelted by the CPM and the Karma Samithi activists. The police had to fire tear gas four times to disperse the protestors.

CPM offices were attacked at Thavanoor in Malappuram and Ernakulam. EMS library in Palakkad was set on fire. CPM office at Pullad in Pathanamthitta was attacked. A BJP office at Neeleswaram in Kasargod was also attacked.

Transportation was disrupted by laying stones on the road and burning tyres at Kundamangalam and Paroppadiyil in Kozhikode. Stones were pelted at the vehicle of the circle inspector in Koyilandy. Roads were blocked by placing logs on the road at Pathanapuam in Kollam. Transportation was disrupted by burning tyres in Kottarakkara.

An ambulance was attacked in Ranni. BJP activists forced closure of shops in Erumeli. KSRTC buses are not plying in Palakkad and Thrissur. The KSRTC bus from Bengaluru are continuing service to Kottayam and Munnar with police protection. There are no KSRTC services to other places.

Stones were pelted at a KSRTC bus in Payyannur and Perumba in Kannur. All KSRTC services in Kannur were stopped following the incident. Protestors also damaged some autos in Kannur.

Only a few KSRTC buses are plying from Kottayam railway station to Pampa. Many are stranded in the station. The KSRTC are operatizing service only to Pampa. Services of KSRTC have been stopped completely at Pappanmcode and Neyyatinkara in the capital city after stones were pelted. The passengers had a tough time after services from other states to Kerala were stopped. Following the hartal, the house of Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi chief T Nazeerudin was given police protection. Police protection was given after he announced the opening of shops. Meantime he told reporters that they are not getting enough support or help from police to defeat the hartal. They are also getting threats from protestors.

Tyres and flex boards were burnt on roads. Bombs and stones were hurled at several places. As many as 30 policemen were injured and 200 workers of different political parties were injured. 70 KSRTC buses were destroyed. 750 persons were arrested. CPM’s 20 offices, CPI’s 5 and BJP’s 10 offices were attacked.
In Palakkad district committee offices of BJO, CPI and CPM were attacked. In Ottapalam, 15 policemen were injured.

In Alappuzha, 6 buses and a statue of Mahatma Gandhi were destroyed. Boat services were suspended and two shops were demolished in Kanjikuzhi.