MALAPPURAM: The UDF has called for a hartal in the Perinthalmanna taluk on Tuesday in connection with the CPM-Muslim League clashes in Perinthalmanna. The hartal will be observed from 6.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Essential services have been avoided from the hartal.

The clash between the SFI and the MSF units in the Perinthalmanna Polytechnic College spilt over into the streets. The Muslim League’s constituency committee office was wrecked during the protest march held by the SFI against the clash. This was followed by the League members picketing the Malappuram-Palakkad road.

Meanwhile, there are reports that the decision to obseerve the hartal in Perinthalmanna taluk alone was taken after the UDF state leadership opposed to the idea of calling for a district-wide hartal based on a regional incident.

It is also reported that instruction regarding this has been sent to the Malappuram district committee from the state leadership. It is said that such a decision was taken after the situation proved that observing of a district-wide hartal would completely freeze normal life in the district.

Meanwhile, there's still tension prevailing in the area, and heavy police protection has been deployed across the district.