India: General strike expected across Kerala, July 30

Event

A statewide hartal (general strike) is expected to be held across Kerala on Sunday, July 30; expect possible disruptions to travel. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called for the shutdown to protest the violent killing of a member of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) organization in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on July 29. The BJP have accused the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the leading state government in Kerala, of being responsible for the attack.

Context

Eight suspects have reportedly been detained by authorities in relation to the case, in which the RSS member was violently attacked by four suspected youth wing activists of the CPI-M. CPI-M have denied the allegations of involvement in the incident. There have been reports of a number of incidents in recent weeks of clashes between opposing party members, including an attempted attack on the BJP state committee office on July 28.

Advice

Individuals present in Kerala state are advised to avoid all protests as a precaution, to monitor the situation, and to follow any instructions issued by the local authorities. Travelers should expect possible disruption and delays to travel, and plan journeys accordingly. There is a possibility of a heightened security presence in Thiruvananthapuram.