Kasargod: The bundh called for by the BJP in Kasargod took a violent turn on Tuesday and the police had to resort to lathi charge and firing tear gas to bring the situation under control.
BJP District Committee had held a Swathanthra Samrakshana Padayathra on Monday, when miscreants, alleged to be CPM workers pelted stones at the procession. Following the incident, the BJP called for a bundh on Tuesday.
During the bundh, the BJP volunteers were seen arguing with and attacking the police. The protesters forcefully stopped vehicles plying on the roads and even pulled down the shutters of the shops that remained open. Several vehicles were also damaged during the bundh.
The angry protesters even pelted stones at the office of District Co-operative Bank, which is controlled by the CPM.
Public and private transportation remained fractured in the region due to which outsiders faced inconvenience. The schools and college too did not function due to the bundh and even examinations scheduled to be held today were cancelled. Government offices remained open with minimum staff.
Meanwhile, BJP State Secretary K Surendran, District President K Srikanatha and 32 persons who were arrested on Monday morning were released on late on Monday evening.
The clash between the BJP and the CPM on Monday rendered several policemen injured. Over 15 party workers of BJP as well as CPM were injured.
