Violence continues in Kannur

KANNUR: Even as the violence-prone areas in the district here remained under prohibitory orders imposed by the authorities for three days from Monday night, violent clashes between Muslim League and CPM workers continued in the sensitive Taliparamba region on Tuesday also.In an attack similar to the one organised allegedly by Muslim League workers against the CPM leaders at Pattuvam on Monday, a car in which Muslim League MLA K M Shaji and other leaders of his party were travelling was blocked and stoned at Bakkalam by CPM activists. The police used grenades against the miscreants who came from the CPM office at Bakkalam. Shaji and other Muslim League leaders were returning from Pattuvam after attending the burial of the Muslim League worker killed at Ariyil on Monday morning. They escaped unhurt in the attack.In another act of retaliation, a CPM worker Padavil Mohanan, was attacked using iron rods by the Muslim League workers causing serious injuries on his head.He was taken to the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital where his condition remained critical. At Irikkur also another CPM worker sustained serious injuries following an attack.Four Muslim League workers suffered injuries in another attack allegedly by CPM activists at Keezhattoor near Taliparamba.Meanwhile, a series of incidents of attacks on houses, shops and party offices belonging to both the CPM and the Muslim League were reported from different parts of the district on Tuesday.Despite the enforcement of prohibitory orders banning  processions and public meetings and the imposition of restrictions on the movement of two-wheelers and  vehicles, there was mounting tension in Taliparamba and adjoining places.At the same time, the hartal organised by the LDF in protest against the attack on CPM leaders at Patuvam and the UDF against the murder of Muslim League worker, Shukoor, at Kannapuram, was total in the district on Tuesday. The hartal affected the normal functioning of government offices, educational institutions and commercial establishments.Since vehicles weren’t excluded from the purview of the hartal, road traffic came to a virtual standstill till 6pm. The supporters of the hartal had put up roadblocks at several places to check the movement of vehicles on highways.The body of Muslim League worker Shukoor was buried at the Ariyil Juma Masjid Kabaristan on Tuesday morning.  Senior Muslim League leaders were present at the Masjid.