Vehicle strike near-total

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The dawn-to-dusk strike on Tuesday, called by motor transport operators and workers� unions cutting across political lines to protest against the hike in the prices of petrol and diesel, was almost total.



The strike turned into a virtual bandh in many parts of the State with shops downing their shutters. In the capital city, only medical shops were open. Even private vehicles mostly remained off the roads. Isolated incidents of violence were reported from different parts of the State. The most serious of these was the destruction of a car at Marayoor in Idukki district. There were also reports of stones being pelted at private vehicles at different places.