The hartal called by the Youth Congress threw life out of gear in Kottayam on Monday.

The flash hartal, which caught the citizens unawares in the morning, affected movement of commuters with the private buses and taxi vehicles staying off the road for most part of the day.

Services cancelled

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation began the operations within the district on a usual note but had to cancel several of its service after 10.30 a.m.

The sudden withdrawal of services left several people stranded on the streets. However, long-haul services by the corporation operated normally.

Meanwhile, police came to the rescue of people, who were stranded in various places.

Exams put off

Schools and colleges remained closed and the University examinations remained postponed.

Most of the banks, commercial institutions remained closed and government offices operated with skeletal staff.

A tense situation prevailed in Kottayam town as protesters converged on the streets after 10.30 a.m. Attacks were reported on a few commercial establishments including a vehicle dealer shop near Nattakom.

Hartal supporters also forced the shop owners to down the shutters in various places including in Mundakkayam, Kalathilpady and Kanjikkuzhy.

Kottayam West police arrested DCC secretary Johny Joseph and INC mandalam vice president Nidhin K. Isaac in connection with the violence erupted over shutting a bakery in Baker Junction. Police also arrested two Congress workers in Mundakkayam for blocking vehicles along NH 183.DCC president Joshy Philip, Nattakom Suresh, Biju Punnathanam, INC mandalam president Joby Augustine and Chinthu Kurien led the protest march held in Kottayam town.

In Alappuzha

Our Staff Reporter writes from Alappuzha:

The dawn-to-dusk flash hartal called by the Youth Congress evoked mixed response in Alappuzha district on Monday. Private vehicles and KSRTC buses conducted service. A few shops and commercial establishments were opened.

The police said no major untoward incident had been reported in the district. However, the hartal affected normal life in different parts of the district as private buses and several taxis stayed off the road. Although, the State Water Transport Department conducted boat services in the morning, it had to halt services following protests.

According to KSRTC officials, it conducted 74 bus services from the Alappuzha depot as against the normal 90 services. Youth Congress activists blocked buses in several places including on Alappuzha-Changanassery Road, Muhamma and Mannancherry. The police removed agitators and resumed the services.

In the backwater tourism sector, several houseboats conducted services but tourist arrivals were way below normal. Youth Congress activists staged protest marches in different parts of the district against the murder of two of its activists at Periya in Kasaragod.