Kozhikode: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Sabarimala Karma Samithi (SKS), in protest against the entry of two women, below 50, in the Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala on Wednesday had disrupted normal life.
Sporadic incidents of violence were reported in North Kerala. Blocking of the roads and pelting of stones on vehicles, including police vehicles and KSRTC buses, by the protestors were also reported from various parts of Malabar region, comprising the six districts of Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Malappuram and Palakkad.
Despite few shops in and around SM Street opened in tune with the call given by merchants union not to cooperate with any hartals, they were forced to close due to the mounting pressure from the furious protesters who pelted stones damaging glasses and articles. The shop owners were seen shouting at the police personnel for their inability to prevent the atrocities by protesters.
The protesters set on fire the office of the CPI(M) at Thavanoor in Malappuram district in the wee hours on Thursday. Police have arrested six persons in this connection.
Apart from road blockades here and there, a CPI(M)-sponsored reading room-cum- library at Vennakara was set on fire allegedly by BJP/RSS activists in Palakkad district.