A taxi driver was assaulted during the hartal in Munnar Tuesday.Munnar, Idukki: Violent incidents were reported during the dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Munnar Samrakshana Samiti in 10 panchayats of the district Tuesday
Agitators blocked traffic and also allegedly assaulted a taxi driver. The irate agitators also showered abuses on foreign tourists, he was ferrying. It was alleged that police personnel did not intervene as agitators went on a rampage nor did they arrange transport for the stranded travelers.
A mediaperson, who tried to capture the violent incidents, also was at the receiving end of their ire.
Citing a host of issues, the CPM along with various organizations called for the hartal in Pallivasal, Bison Valley, Santhanpara, Chinnakanal, Marayoor, Vattavada, Kanthalloor, Munnar, Devikulam, and Vellathooval.
The Munnar protection committee was formed after the revenue department canceled the ownership right of 28 acres of land allegedly encroached upon by Joice George, MP, and his family at Kottakambur village in Devikulam taluk.
The hartal was called to press for a number of demands, including withdrawal of the report submitted by revenue principal secretary Nivedita P. Haran, stoppage of anti-encroachment drives initiated by the Devikulam sub-collector, implementation of the decision made at the meeting convened by the chief minister, and halting the ongoing drive to cancel title deeds.
The CPI, the second-largest ally of the CPM-led LDF, had refused to support the CPM-backed hartal.
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