The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by various Hindu organisations and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the district on Friday was total and peaceful.
The Hindu Aikyavedi, Sabarimala Ayyappa Seva Samajom, and the BJP have observed the hartal, alleging that suspected police action have led to the death of a 60-year-old Sabarimala pilgrim, Sivadasan from Pandalam, whose body was found in a bush near Laha on Thursday.
Sivadasan, a lottery agent, reportedly went to Sabarimala on October 18 and his relatives filed a complaint at the Pandalam police station as he failed to return even after two days.
Found in ditch
The putrefied body was found among the bush in a 50-ft deep ditch on the wayside at Kambakathumvalavu, near Laha, on Thursday.
The body was found by workers who were clearing the bushes on the wayside of the Sabarimala road.
Sivadasan’s two-wheeler too was found lying near the body.
According to the police, the postmortem examination held at Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, found no injury to any of his internal organs.
Accident death
The police suspect that the death might have been due to an accident.
Shops and business establishments remained close in almost all parts of the district, including the remote rural areas, on the day.
Motor vehicles, except those carrying Sabarimala pilgrims, marriage parties and hospital-bound patients, kept off the roads.
Government offices and banks in the district recorded thin attendance.
The hartal-supporters took out protest marches in Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, Ranni, Konni, Adoor, Pandalam, Kozhencherry and Mallappally in the forenoon.
