The dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the LDF and the BJP on Saturday against the diesel price hike and reduction in the number of subsidised LPG cylinders brought the life in Kochi and other parts of the district to a standstill.
Though stray incidents of violence were reported from Ernakulam rural police limits the city remained peaceful. The police had taken all precautionary measures to tackle any untoward incident.
The LDF and the BJP activists took out protest marches in city. Minor incidents of violence were reported in Chottanikkara and Muvattupuzha.
Some miscreants pelted stones on a KSTRC superfast bus which lost control and hit a pole injuring several passengers. Muvattupuzha DySP M N Ramesh said that stones were pelted by anti-social people in the guise of the hartal supporters.
At Chottanikkara, a DYFI leader suffered injuries when a chicken shop owner attacked the activists who tried to close down the shop. The KSRTC services were disrupted while private buses kept off roads.
State Water Transport Department (SWTD) boats did not operate making it hard for people in Fort Kochi and Vypeen areas to come to the city.
People who arrived in railway stations and airport remained stranded as majority of taxis and auto rickshaws did not ply. A few autorickshaw drivers who were present at the railway station cashed in on the situation.
Most of the shops other than medical stores and pavement eateries remained closed till evening. Rush was seen at the shopping complexes and malls which were opened in the evening.
The educational institutes remained closed and thin attendance was reported in government offices. The Collectorate remained closed as majority of employees failed to turn up for duty.
Infopark employees reached office in private vehicles.