UDF, LDF hartal in Wayanad today; protesters block vehicles, shops shut

Kalpetta: The hartal announced by the United Democratic Front (UDF) and Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Wayanad began at 6 am on Tuesday and will last until 6 pm. The strike has been called in protest against the alleged neglect of the victims of the landslide disaster at Chooralmala Mundakkai.

As part of the 12-hour hartal, protesters blocked vehicles in several areas. Many travellers unaware of the hartal found themselves stranded at the borders. Protesters began blocking vehicles early in the morning at the Wayanad ghat section and border areas near Karnataka.

The police intervened to clear the stranded vehicles and ensure their passage. In Kalpetta town, hartal supporters stopped a KSRTC bus and staged a protest.

The UDF is scheduled to march to Kalpetta, Mananthavady, and Sultan Bathery post offices this morning. Meanwhile, the LDF will hold protest demonstrations across Wayanad, including Kalpetta town. 

Only KSRTC buses are operating in the district during the hartal. Shops and markets remain closed as the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (Merchants and Traders Coordination Committee) has extended its support to the hartal.

The UDF has called for a hartal to highlight the failures of the Central and Kerala governments in addressing the landslide disaster. The LDF, on the other hand, is protesting against the Central government’s refusal to declare the Wayanad landslide as a national disaster.