No untoward incidents were reported from Kasaragod, Kannur, or Wayanad
Life remained paralysed in the district on Thursday, the second day of the nationwide general strike called by trade unions.
Shops were closed and transport vehicles off the roads, though more two-wheelers and private vehicles came out than on Wednesday. The strike was total as it was on the first day, as workers and employees stayed away from work.
The strike was peaceful as nowhere did its supporters use force.
Government offices did not function for all practical purposes as attendance was thin. The Bank Employees’ Federation of India district unit thanked bank officers and employees who joined the strike.
In Kasaragod
Staff Reporter writes from Kasaragod:
Normal life was affected in the district for the second day in a row on Thursday following the two-day nationwide general strike called by major trade unions in protest against the neo-liberal economic policies of the United Progressive Alliance government at the Centre.
The strike by and large remained incident-free across the district. A few inter-State trucks plied on the roads during night hours. Some private vehicles were also seen on the roads.
The strike did not affect the fish market at Kanhangad. A vendor said though the sales volume was a bit low, the market functioned as usual.
A few wayside hotels that functioned came as a boon to the miniscule floating population and those staying in lodges.
The opening of a few shops at Cherkala in the morning also provided some relief to the shoppers.
Attendance at government and other offices remained abysmally low with all modes of public transport keeping off roads for the second day on Thursday. The people and business community, despite having to face inconveniences and revenue loss, appeared to have come forward to express solidarity with the aggrieved trade union communities. The business community, in particular, appeared to have come forward to join the strike to send a strong message to the ruling parties, cautioning against their “anti-poor” policies in recent years, said a cloth merchant at Kanhangad.
Peaceful in Wayanad
Staff Reporter writes from Wayanad: The strike was total and peaceful in Wayanad on Thursday.
There was a hartal-like situation even in small towns with shops, except medical shops, and business establishments remaining closed.
Only 62 of the 142 employees turned up for duty at the Collectorate, Collector K.Gopalakrishna Bhatt told The Hindu.
The attendance at other government offices was also very thin. With private and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses and four-wheelers keeping of the road, vehicles operated by the Police Department were the sole relief to the public.
“We operated six services each to Sulthan Bathery and Mananthavady from Kalpetta,” District Police Chief A.V. George said. No untowardincident was reported in connection with the strike, he added.
