Normal life was affected in the State capital on Monday following the dawn-to-dusk Statewide hartal called by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF) in protest against the rise in prices of petroleum products. Barring a few isolated incidents, the hartal was largely peaceful.
KSRTC city service buses, private buses, taxis and autorickshaws, barring a few, kept off the road. The lack of transportation facilities posed difficulties for many people who came from far-off places.
Relief
However, shuttle services conducted by the Kerala Police brought relief to many stranded passengers at the KSRTC central bus station and Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station at Thampanoor. Multiple trips were conducted to the Government Medical College Hospital, Regional Cancer Centre, Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, and the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
Although the flow of private vehicles was less in the early hours of the day, there was a marked increase in the number of vehicles later on. Hartal supporters blocked vehicles at certain parts of the district, including Chirayinkeezhu, Parassala, and along parts of the Karamana-Kaliyikkavila stretch of National Highway 66.
Stones Stones were pelted at vehicles at a few vehicles.
The wind shield of a car was smashed at Parassala after a group of hartal supporters hurled stones at the vehicle. Congress activists pelted stones at a TNSRTC bus headed for Karakonam from Parassala late on Sunday. The incident took place during a demonstration by the Congress as a prelude to the hartal. The police are yet to record any arrests.
Near Technopark
The police thwarted an attempt made by Congress activists to stage a sit-in in front of the Technopark. They planned the demonstration soon after a group of vehicles entered the premises with police support. Twelve activists were arrested.
A group of Congress activists attempted to forcibly shut down the Cantonment branch of the Canara Branch, paving way for an argument among the activists and the bank employees. The police brought the issue under control. Barring a few medical stores, most establishments remained closed. Attendance was thin in government offices in the district, official sources said. The LDF and UDF took out demonstrations to the General Post Office and the office of the Accountants General, Kerala, respectively.
