Hartal: No major incidents reported

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The capital city stayed home for the most part on Thursday with the hartal called by the LDF and the BJP throwing normal life haywire. But barring a few incidents, the hartal was trouble-free in the district.The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) discontinued its services in the district after three of its buses were attacked by hartal loyalists.At 5.45 am, hartal loyalists shattered the windshields of a KSRTC bus at Kattakkada by pelting stones. No one was hurt in the incident. A few hours later, two men on a bike attacked another bus at Thachottukavu and shattered the windshields. The third bus was attacked at Vattiyoorkavu. The police have arrested one person in connection with this incident.KSRTC officials at Thampanoor Central said that they resumed services from the depot only by 6 pm after the dawn-to-dusk hartal came to an end.The LDF, BJP and the SDPI had called hartals in protest against the steep hike the Centre had effected in petrol prices.Shops and establishments in Thiruananthapuram remained closed. By 10 am, the KSRTC city services from East Fort also called it a day following the attack on the buses. A few autorickshaws and private vehicles were seen on the roads. LDF and BJP took out marches to the Secretariat demanding immediate roll back of the hike. LDF convener Vaikom Viswan inaugurated the LDF sit-in.A minor ruckus erupted at the Secretariat gates after DYFI activists tried to break down police barricades. Another minor incident was reported at the Thiruananthapuram Central Railway Station after AIYF activists tried to barge in.Meanwhile, Technopark employees were transported to their offices in a convoy of vehicles.