Hartal over diesel price hike hits normal life in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by LDF and BJP to protest hike in diesel prices and curtail LPG subsidy affected normal life across Kerala but passed off peacefully.

Reports from different districts said the hartal crippled mobility of people as buses, taxis and autorickshaws kept off the roads and shops and hotels were closed.

But for isolated incidents of stoning of vehicles, no violence was reported from anywhere in the state, police said.

Apart from isolated incidents of stoning of vehicles, no violence was reported from anywhere in the state.

Attendance was thin in government offices. The protest, however, did not affect the industry and the IT sector.

There was no disruption of rail traffic.

However, passengers who came by long-distance trains were caught unawares in many places as they found it difficult to get taxis or autorickshaws for onward journeys.

Police said no violence had been reported from anywhere.

Pro-left unions in transport sector extended support to the protest.

The state Human Rights Commission has warned the hartal supporters that cases would filed against them if they indulged in violence or attempted to forcibly close shops or caused damage to properties.

The hartal call was given separately by LDF and BJP.

Leaders of LDF and BJP claimed the response to the hartal call was total and spontaneous, reflecting the anger and anxiety of the people at the steep increase in diesel price and curtail the number of subsidised LPG supply.

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