THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Army staged a flag march in Kannur in North Kerala even as violence, on a scale unseen this year, marked a 12hour statewide bandh called by CPI (M)-led Opposition.

Scores of people were injured in stabbing and stone pelting while dozens of buses and private vehicles were damaged during the bandh called to protest Nov.25th deaths in police firing in Kuthuparambu near Kannur.

Police opened fire in the air at Pazhavangadi in Kannur and Arikkode in Malapuram to disperse rampaging crowds which attacked police stations at several places. Normal life was disrupted throughout the State while in Thiruvananthapuram shops and offices were closed. At Kottayam, the house of Vice-chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University Dr. Sukumaran Nair was stoned and in Kochi P.M. Mathew, are search professor of the Aquaculture Department of the Fisheries College, Panangad, was hospitalized after an assault.

The Thiruvananthapuram bound Parasuram Express from Kannur was held up by over 1,000 persons at Kuttipuram,

Thrissur town were a deserted look as neither private nor KSRTC buses operated. All shops and commercial establishments including medical stores, remained closed.

Army was preparing for a flag march in Thalassery town, where a large number of CPI (M) workers were flocking from neighboring areas to join the funeral procession of the five youths killed on Friday.

Incidents of arson and attack on Government vehicles and offices were reported from different places.

Meanwhile, the second day’s play in the three day cricket match between the West Indies and Ranji champions. Bombay, at Kozhikode was called off due to the bandh, Reports from Kochi said banks and companies there recorded poor attendance, A spokesperson of the Cochin Refineries Ltd claimed 71% of attendance in the operation side while produce movement was affected due to non-arrival of wagons and trucks,

Reports from Kottayam said vans carrying Deepikanewspaper were attacked by probandh activists at Thodupuzha, Kollam, Nedumkandam and Allapuzha on Saturday morning. Vans carrying Mathru bhoomi were also attacked at Pala and Ettumanoor.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 2, 1994