Hartal turns violent in Kerala - Nov. 1, 2003 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 1 (UNI) — Violence broke out in several parts of Kerala, where normal life was paralysed following a 12-hour hartal called by the opposition demanding resignation of Excise Minister T. Sivadasa Menon, owning responsibility for last week’s hooch tragedies which had left 35 persons dead. The hartal coincided with the 44th state formation day. The police resorted to lathi charge at Punalur where hartal supporters damaged a truck and stoned a bar. Three Congress led Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) workers and two policemen were injured in the incident. The UDF workers set fire two liquor shops at Karunagapally (Kollam), Venjaramoodu (Thiruvananthapuram) and Thaliparambu (Kannur) and Amboori (Thiruvananthapuram). A report from Kozhikode said a 12-year-old boy was seriously injured during the stone throwing at Armapuram. The hartal supporters manhandled the headmaster of the Government Lower Primary School at Chavara when he was proceeding to the school. A few private cars and trucks were damaged at Valiathura and Pattom in Thiruvananthapuram and at Aluva in Ernakulam. A report from Aluva said the windshields of four trucks and two cars were smashed by the processionists in front of the Congress office. The hartal supporters also barged into government offices and banks and threatened those on duty. Reports from district headquarters said normal life was paralysed with shops and commercial establishments remaining closed. Both private and state-owned buses and other vehicles, except two-wheelers, went off the road, and educational institutions remained closed,evoking a total response to the bandh call. Government offices and factories reported thin attendance, but post offices and banks functioned at many places.