Thiruvananthapuram: Buses and auto rickshaws were off from the roads as the 12-hour state-wide hartal called by the BJP in Kerala to protest against the brutal killing of a 25-year-old party activist in Pinarayi in Kannur began Thursday morning.
Early reports said no untoward incident has been reported in any part of the state, including the politically sensitive northern district of Kannur, where there is heavy police patrolling.
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BJP activist Remith was hacked to death in the hometown of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday within 48 hours of the murder of a CPI(M) activist and toddy shop worker Mohanan (40) by a six-member gang at Pathiriyad in Kannur district.
This is the second hartal in Kannur district within 3 days as the CPI(M) had observed a hartal in protest against the murder of their worker.
IGP Northern Range, Dinendra Kashyap said over 2000 police personnel have been mobilised in Kannur. Those who have gone on leave have been asked to report for duty.
There is simmering tension and more police personnel have been deployed at places where the body will be kept for public homage, he said.
Meanwhile, police have registered cases against 10 CPI(M) workers in connection with the attack on Remith. A special squad under DYSP (Administration) T P Renjith has been formed to investigate the case.
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Police have made special arrangements to take patients, who had come by trains from various parts of the state for treatment at the Regional Cancer Centre Hospital in the state capital.
Meanwhile, BJP activists are taking out a road march to the Secretariat.
Examinations which were to be conducted on Thursday by Kerala, Kannur, Calicut and Cochin Universities have been postponed due to the hartal.