Clashes at several places in Kerala as campaign ends (Lead)
April 14th, 2009 - 9:20 pm ICT by IANS
Thiruvananthapuram, April 14 (IANS) Skirmishes between rival fronts were reported at several places across Kerala Tuesday as the high voltage campaign for the Lok Sabha election ended Tuesday evening.
Trouble broke out after supporters of rival fronts came out in large numbers at important junctions on vehicles and two wheelers with party flags and began shouting slogans to impress the voters.
In north Kerala, especially in Kozhikode and Vadakara, angry supporters of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) clashed with each other forcing the police to use canes and even tear gas to disperse the supporters.
In Kozhikode, seven two-wheelers belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters were damaged.
Skirmishes were also reported in Malappuram district between the Indian Union Muslim League and LDF activists.
Reports of stone throwing came in from Kottayam and BJP candidate Narayanan Nampoothiri was injured.
In the capital city, the police had to use force to disperse clashing LDF and UDF activists.
Kerala goes to the polls Thursday for 20 Lok Sabha seats for which 217 candidates are in the fray.
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Tags: activists, april 14, campaign ends, clashes, high voltage, junctions, kottayam, large numbers, ldf, lok sabha election, lok sabha seats, muslim league, north kerala, opposition, party flags, polls, skirmishes, slogans, tuesday evening, two wheelers
