Statewide shutdown in Kerala
A shutdown in Kerala was observed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to protest the death of a Sabarimala devotee on Friday, which also saw few incidents of violence that prompted stern police warning. The 50-year-old Lord Ayyappa devotee had set himself on fire at a BJP protest venue early Thursday and later succumbed to his injuries at a state-run Medical College hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
Shops, establishments, markets besides all educational institutions in the state remained closed though private vehicles were seen plying.
Three buses parked at the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation depot were stoned by a group of people at Palghat, as the state run KRCTC was not operating its services.
Stern warning has been issued by state police chief Loknath Behra, that any trouble makers who try to forcefully down shutters and create impediments would be arrested immediately.
The famed tourist destination at Alappuzha, where there are over 1,000 houseboats also did not operate.
A deserted look was observed at the commercial capital Kochi. A few auto rickshaws were however, seen operating and the Kochi Metro services were open.
Former state BJP chief C.K. Padmanabhan, who has been on an indefinite fast against the manner in which the Left government was handling the Sabarimala issue after the September 28 Supreme Court verdict that allowed all women entry into the shrine, justified the shutdown.
"The protest is aimed at opening the eyes of the authorities," said Padmanabhan.
NEET examination centres were exempted from shutdown and transport facilities were provided to the candidates by the BJP, which took out protest marches at all district headquarters.
