Pathanamthitta/Kannur (Kerala): The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has declared a hartal on Saturday, October 24, across seven villages in Pathanamthitta district to protest against the draft Environmentally Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notification. Concurrently, a localised hartal will be observed in Kannur town until 4 pm on the same day as a mark of respect following the passing of senior CPM and CITU leader K P Sahadevan.

 

Pathanamthitta ESZ protest hartal

CPM Pathanamthitta district secretary Raju Abraham confirmed that there is no change in the shutdown call, stating that none of the seven identified villages in the district were excluded from the draft ESZ notification. The hartal will be observed across Chittar, Seethathode, Aruvapulam, and Thannithode villages in Konni taluk, alongside Vadasserikkara, Perunad and Kollamula villages in Ranni taluk.

Raju Abraham questioned opposition to the strike, defending the protest as necessary to protect local residents affected by the notification. Meanwhile, Ranni MLA Vazhakulam Madhu criticised the CPM-led strike, characterising it as misleading and noting that the LDF had failed to introduce an urgent motion in the Legislative Assembly regarding the issue.

The protest follows a similar district-wide hartal called by the CPM in Idukki on October 16 over ESZ maps and land issues, which saw widespread participation and vehicle blockades.

 

Kannur localised hartal

In Kannur, a hartal will be observed within the limits of the former municipality until 4 pm on Saturday to honour the memory of K P Sahadevan. CPM Kannur District Secretary K K Ragesh requested public cooperation, clarifying that essential services, hotels and vehicular traffic will be exempted from the shutdown.