The hartal observed in hilly regions of Kozhikode in protest against the Centre’s decision to implement the Kasturirangan committee report turned violent as hundreds of protesters ran amok at Adivaram near Thamarassery in rural Kozhikode on Friday. The police fired three rounds in air to disperse the mob, which tried to block Kozhikode Rural SP P H Asharaf. The protesters resorted to heavy stone-pelting at police personnel and also attacked media persons. Subsequently, the traffic on the Wayanad Ghat road was stalled for hours.
About 40 policemen and protesters sustained injuries in the clashes. According to local residents, tension prevailed in many parts of the region. Four offices of the Forest Department at the Thamarassery Range, around six vehicles on its premises and a large number of files were set on fire. Besides, two buildings adjacent to the Forest Range office were also set afire. The mob also damaged the village office, housing board office, BSNL office, the official vehicle of Thamarassery CI P Bijuraj, KSRTC buses and destroyed several vehicles parked at the private workshops. The police had a tough time maintaining law and order as top officials were engaged in arranging security for the CM’s mass contact programme to be held here on Saturday. Additional Director General of Police North Zone N Shanker Reddy told Express that more than 300 police personnel were deployed in the problematic regions but could not use them effectively due to geographical limitations. “There was sudden heavy stone-pelting against policemen from high altitude areas. Police had no other way but to open fire in air to clear the violent mob,” he said.