Partial response to Kottayam dist hartal call by BJP

There was a partial response in Kottayam district to the dawn to dusk hartal call given by BJP in protest against the attack against party workers.
Normal life was crippled in major towns in the district, including Pala, Changanassery, Kottyayam and Ettumanoor
Though sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the district, hartal did not affect normal life in village areas.
BJP workers who took out a march in Kottayam town targeted Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses and private vehicles.
An RSS worker was arrested from Thirunakkara in Kottayam town for allegedly pelting stones at a car, police said.

While participating in demostration, RSS and BJP workers also allegedly destroyed flags of CPI(M) in the town.

A group of BJP workers allegedly attacked a village office in Chengalam in the district, tearing files.
They attacked an official when he tried to prevent them from destroying files and furniture of the village office, police said.
Village office employee Rajesh Kumar who was injured in the attack has been admitted in Kottayam district hospital, they said.
BJP called for the hartal in protest against the alleged attack yesterday on its two Gram Panchayat members in Kumarakom by a 28-member gang, reportedly headed by CPI(M) local leaders while they were going to the panchayat office.