Thiruvananthapuram: Though leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala said the dawn-to-dusk shutdown called by the Congress-led UDF in Kerala would be a peaceful affair, violent incidents were reported during the stir Monday. The hartal was called to protest against the alleged anti-people policies of the state and central governments.
The KSRTC buses that conducted services after the police promised adequate security, came under attack in some parts of Kerala. TV reports said that stones were hurled at a KSRTC bus near Palarivattom in Kochi.
KSRTC buses operating services in Konni and Kozhencherry in Pathanamthitta also came under attack; after which, the buses from Pathanamthitta depot stopped the services.
Despite Chennithala urging the UDF workers not to resort to force or violence to make the hartal a success, there were reports of vehicles being blocked in some parts of the state, including Thrissur. The Congress workers stopped vehicles in Kollam, while KSRTC buses were at the receiving end of the agitators' ire in Thiruvananthapuram.
There were allegations that the police did not intervene as agitators attacked vehicles in Kollam. Chavara and Kottarakara were the affected places in the district.
In Kozhikode, protesters clashed with the police after they stopped the agitators who blocked the traffic.
In Alappuzha, Congress workers held a sit-in protest at the police station after some of the protesters were taken into custody.
In Kannur, agitators stopped a KSRTC bus and forced the passengers to alight. After the local people protested, the passengers were allowed to resume their journey in the same bus.
Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath led the protest in the town, where vehicular traffic was hit.

Most of the shops and business establishments remained shut. Roads bore a deserted look as vehicles, including private buses kept off the roads.
Passengers stranded
Hundreds of Kerala bound bus passengers were stranded in Coimbatore after services were cancelled by Tamil Nadu government due to the hartal.
Nearly 40 buses are run daily to Kerala from Gandhipuram and Ukkadam bus stands in the city, with passengers shuttling between Palakkad, Thrissur, Guruvayoor and Ernakulam.
Though the authorities decided to run a bus with police escort, no passenger had entered it out of fear that the vehicles may be targetted once they enter Kerala.
Buses from Kerala also did not arrive in the city, the police said.
The Kerala government had ordered the police to take strict action against those who indulge in violence in the name of the protest. State police chief Loknath Behera said strict security measures have been implemented to stop incidents of violence.
Essential services such as milk and newspaper delivery were exempted from the strike.
When Congress said no to hartal
The previous UDF government had proposed a hartal bill that says all political parties should pay a collateral deposit as compensation for any damage caused to public property. The then home minister Ramesh Chennithala had even made a fiery speech while presenting a draft bill in the assembly.
In 2004, former minister and senior Congress leader M.M. Hassan had observed a 24-hour-fast in protest against the 'hartal culture' in the state.
Officials said said there was no change in the Kerala PSC examinations scheduled for Monday.
Postponed exams
1. Kerala University
All examinations scheduled for Monday.
2. Calicut University
B.Tech, B.Arch (2004 scheme) sixth semester supplementary exams to October 30
B.Tech, B.Tech (part time, 2000 scheme) seventh semester supplementary exams to October 23.
3. MG University
All exams; new dates not declared
4. Health varsity
Third year BMMS (2014 admission) regular theory exam to October 21
Rest of the theory exams to Tuesday
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