BJP hartal disrupts normal life in Kannur

Thalassery: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the BJP in Kannur district on Thursday to protest the killing of one of its workers has affected normal life in the district.

Shops have downed shutters and vehicles are off the roads in Kannur, where the 57th state School Arts festival is presently on.

Although the BJP leaders had informed that the festival would not be affected, several vehicles en route to the venues were blocked. Most of the venues have witnessed comparatively less viewers as the public are staying away from the fest due to the shutdown.

Ezhuthan Santhosh, a 52-year-old BJP worker was stabbed to death allegedly by CPI-M cadres Wednesday night. The attack took place when he was alone in his house at Andaloor in Dharmadam here. Santosh was rushed to a hospital but he died on the way, Kannur Superintendent of Police KP Philip told PTI.

Santosh, the BJP booth president of Andaloor, had contested in the last local body elections.

The fatal attack took place two days after the RSS-BJP gang allegedly carried out an attack against a tour guide and students of Brennen college, who had arrived after a tour on Tuesday. There has been a stand off between ABVP and SFI for sometime in the college, and it is believed that the attack on BJP could have been carried due to the on going stand off.

In another incident in the district, a country-made bomb was hurled at the RSS Karyalaya at Thaliparamba Thursday morning, police said, adding no one was injured in the incident.

Police forces have been deployed in the area as the situation in the area continues to be tense.