Mangaluru, September 9: Preparation for the Bharat Bandh called by the Congress, JDS, CPI, CPM and various other like minded organizations against fuel price hike and condemning the anti-people’s policies of the BJP-led NDA government at the centre, on September 10 is almost complete.

Various units of the Congress have been holding meetings, appealing the shopkeepers to support the bandh. Amidst this, many other organizations have also extended their support to the bandh.

No forceful bandh

Congress leaders said that there will be no forceful bandh on September 10. Daily life of a common people hit hard with the fuel price hike. Condemning this development, everyone needs to conduct voluntary bandh. Party workers have been strictly directed not to affect the supply and service of the milK, newspapers, hospitals and medical shops, they said.

KSRTC bus service may hit

As the AITUC led KSRTC Employees Union has informed their higher officers that they would extend the bandh, the bandh may hit the bus service. As the Canara private bus owners and autorickshaw drivers association, backed by the Left parties, have extended their support to the bandh, bandh in the district could be successful.

Congress appeals for bandh success

Congress leaders and party workers have visited Kadri market, City Centre Mall and other business areas and appealed the businessmen and shop-keepers and people to support the bandh on Monday. People were disappointed against the BJP government at the centre. Common people could not lead their life due to fuel price hike. So, people need to support for the bandh to warn the central government, they said.

Former MLA JR Lobo, KPCC general secretary PV Mohan, District Youth Congress President Mithun Rai, Block Presidents Vishwas Kumar Das, Abdul Saleem, Leaders Praveen Chandra Alva, Vinay Raj, Meril Rego, Shashiraj Ambhat, TK Sudhir, Ramananda Poojary, Haneef Muhammad, Honnaiah, Namitha Rao, Rajesh Bale Kallu, Appi, Jacintha Alfred, Bilal Modin, Asif Bengare, Hussain Bolar, Sadashiva Amin, Durgaprasad, Sunil Shetty, Benet D’Mello, Umesh Devadiga, Hemanth Garodi and others were present.

Appeal to close schools and colleges

All Colleges Students Union convener Mithun Rai appealed all the managements and the Mangalore University to close their educational institutions in the district and coming under the university and to support the bandh.

CPI support

Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts units of CPI extended their full support to the bandh to be held on September 10, said district secretary V Kukyan.

Muslim Merchants Association

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised of bringing back the black money by introducing demonetisation. Now, it has been playing with the lives of common people by increasing the fuel prices. Condemning this anti-people policy of the central government, the Muslim Merchants Association and Meat Merchants Association, District Minority Auto Owners and Drivers Association have extended their support to the bandh, said Ali Hasan.

To support the bandh, the slaughter house at Kudroli would be closed on September 10, Contractor J Abdul Khader said.

Prathibha Karanji to be Postponed

The Education Department has postponed all the cultural activities of Prathibha Karanji and Kalolsava programme scheduled on September 10 for one day in the district. The high school section programmes scheduled for September 10 would be held on September 11 and the primary school section programme slated for September 11 would be held on September 12, according to a press release.

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Kozhikode (PTI): Violence erupted overnight at various places across Kerala, particularly in northern districts, following the announcement of local body election results, police said.

In Eramala in Kozhikode district, tension prevailed throughout the night after the Indira Gandhi Bhavan, a Congress office, was allegedly attacked by CPI(M) workers.

According to an FIR registered at Edachery police station, around 200 people marched towards the Congress office carrying dangerous weapons and vandalised the building, causing damage estimated at around Rs five lakh.

A statue of late prime minister Indira Gandhi was also damaged in the attack, police said. Soon after, UDF activists gathered at the spot, further aggravating the situation.

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However, with the deployment of additional police personnel, the situation was brought under control, an officer said.

Police said another violent incident was reported at Marad, where stones were allegedly pelted at a UDF victory procession, leaving several persons injured.

In Sultan Bathery in Wayanad district, police registered a case after a car carrying a UDF activist and his family members was allegedly attacked by around 40 CPI(M) workers, an official said.

Sultan Bathery police also booked UDF activists in a separate incident for allegedly attacking a CPI(M) worker who objected to the bursting of crackers near his house, the officer said.

In Panoor in Kannur district, houses of several Muslim League activists were allegedly attacked by CPI(M) workers. Vehicles parked at the houses were also damaged.

According to Panoor police, the violence broke out after a UDF victory rally was allegedly stopped by CPI(M) workers armed with swords and daggers. Some UDF leaders sustained injuries in the clash.

Clashes were also reported between UDF and LDF workers at Ulikkal in Kannur district, though police intervention brought the situation under control later in the night, an officer in the Ulikkal police station said.

In Bedakom in Kasaragod district, an LDF victory march turned violent after CPI(M) activists allegedly intercepted UDF workers passing through the area. Some policemen who intervened suffered minor injuries, an officer said.

Similar violence was reported from Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram district following clashes between CPI(M) and BJP workers. Police said workers from both sides sustained minor injuries and were admitted to hospitals. Cases will be registered after formal complaints are received, police said.