Bandh cripples life in Kasaragod

Normal life was affected following the day-long bandh being observed in the district today by the opposition to protest the death of two India Union Muslim League (IUML) workers, including one in alleged police firing, here.
    
Business establishments and educational institutions remained closed while vehicles kept off the roads affecting normal life, police said, adding no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district so far.
    
Additional police forces have been deployed to restore normalcy in the town where prohibitory orders were in force after an IUML activist was allegedly killed in police firing yesterday. Another worker had died after unknown persons stabbed him at a nearby locality triggering tensions. The IUML have sought a judicial probe into the firing incident.
    
Party workers, who had gathered to accord a reception to party state leaders and former ministers PK Kunhalikutty and MK Muneer, yesterday vented their ire on a police party as it tried to clear the traffic snarl caused by a "bike rally" on the sidelines of the function. At least 30 policemen including DSP Ramdas Pothan sustained injuries in the incident.
    
Police, then, resorted to firing after the workers engaged in widespread violence, pelting stones and damaging a police jeep.