: Incidents of violence marked the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Bharatiya Janata Party and Sangh Parivar organisations, which brought life to a standstill in Kochi.
According to the police, instances of stone-throwing were reported at many areas such as Kakkanad, South railway station and MG Road.
The Central police registered a case after members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh complained that their office near Pulleppady was attacked. In their complaint, they said three persons who arrived in an autorickshaw around 8.30 a.m. threw stones at the office building. A window pane was reportedly broken in the incident. Police received another complaint from the driver of the autorickshaw saying that RSS workers assaulted him in front of the building.
“Opposing claims have been made by both parties. We are probing the incident to find what actually happened. We have registered two cases based on the two complaints,” said a police officer.
The Thrikkakara police registered three cases following complaints of violence. Protestors broke the windows of three cars in the region. Four persons were arrested for throwing stones at vehicles and breaking windows with stones.
In the city, scenes of regular traffic congestions were replaced by near-deserted roads as shops largely remained shut and vehicles mostly stayed off the roads. Most people were cocooned in their houses or hotel rooms as only two wheelers and cars plied on the roads.
“We have registered cases on all complaints received and arrests have been made,” said a police officer.
Though the KSRTC conducted convoy services to Cherthala and Aluva in the morning, the operations were soon stopped completely after the windscreen of one of the buses got damaged when protestors pelted stones at Edakochi.
Work on all major projects, including the Kochi Metro rail came to a standstill. The industrial units in Eloor, Kalamassery and Ambalamugal wore a deserted look as majority of employees kept away from work. Government offices recorded a very low attendance.
The worst affected were those who did not even get food since most eateries were closed. Tourists, both foreign and domestic, were seen beseeching taxi operators to take them to their destinations.
With fuel bunks remaining closed, motorists who ran out of fuel had to wait till evening for a refill.
In Kochi airport, almost all the flights, both domestic and international, remained relatively unaffected even as there was a drop in the number of departing passengers owing to the strike. A number of passengers who were scheduled to board flights from here during the day had reached the airport in the previous night itself.
