The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi on Thursday was near total in Alappuzha district. The district for the second consecutive day witnessed protests and violence in connection with the Sabarimala issue.
The CPI(M) party office was pelted with stones at Poochakkal. Flagpoles of the CPI(M) and the DYFI were destroyed in several places. A waiting shed constructed by CITU was set on fire at Thuravoor. A vehicle carrying food to the Alappuzha Medical College Hospital was attacked at Mannar.
A statue of Mahatma Gandhi in front of Government High School, Pathiyoor, was vandalised, allegedly by hartal supporters. The school and a nearby house also came under the attack.
Forced closure of shops
The protesters forcibly closed several shops. Hartal supporters vandalised two shops and attacked its owners at Kanjikuzhi. On Wednesday night, KSRTC buses were vandalised in different parts of the district. A bus of the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation was pelted with stones at Kalavoor. Most shops and commercial establishments remained shut in Alappuzha town and other parts of the district. The KSRTC, private buses, autorickshaws and taxis stayed off road giving a harrowing time to commuters. The State Water Transport Department was forced to halt all its services in the district.
The tourism sector was affected due to fewer tourist arrivals. The attendance at government offices in the district was considerably low. The BJP activists staged protest marches in the district. A protest march carried out by BJP to the residence of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan near Kanichukulangara Junction was blocked by the police.
