Hartal hits life in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The day-long hartal called by RSS in Kerala Tuesday to protest murder of an activist in Kannur district disrupted normal life across the state.

Initial reports said buses, taxis and autorickshaws kept off the roads and shops remained closed all over the state.

The state government has declared a holiday for educational institutions, including professional colleges and universities postponed examinations scheduled for the day.

Barring stray incidents of stone-pelting at buses no major violence had been reported from anywhere, police said.

A report from Kozhikode said the hartal was near total with all forms of transport, including private buses, taxis, lorries and autorickshaws off the roads.

Only two-wheelers and some private cars were seen plying in the town. Inter-state bus transport was also affected, it said.

Police said they have intensified the search for the culprits involved in the murder and that some people had been taken into custody to interrogation.

In Kasargod district, Kasargod taluk and Manjeshwar taluk were exempted from the hartal in view of the Ganesha festival.

The hartal was total in Ernakulam where the state owned Transport Corporation and private buses remained off the road, reports from Kochi said. In the wake of stray incidents of stone pelting, KSRTC stopped bus services. The stir has also hit Kochi Metro works.

Manoj (42), a district office-bearer of RSS was hacked to death by a gang that attacked him in politically-volatile Kathirur in Kannur district in north Kerala on Monday.

Country-made bombs were hurled at the car in which Manoj and his companion were travelling and the attackers then hacked him to death.