Sun Nov 17 06:05:50 IST 2024: ## Congress Calls for Hartal in Kozhikode Following Violent Cooperative Bank Elections
**Kozhikode, [Date]:** The Congress party has announced a 24-hour hartal in Kozhikode district, beginning at 6 am tomorrow, following violent clashes during the Chevayur Service Co-operative Bank elections today. DCC president Praveen and MP MK Raghavan made the announcement at a press conference.
The violence erupted at the polling station at the Government Higher Secondary School, Parayanchery, during a contested election between the Congress’ official panel and a rebel group backed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM). The rebel group, operating under the banner of the “Bank Protection Committee,” is accused by the Congress of orchestrating attacks on vehicles carrying voters.
Congress leaders allege widespread irregularities, claiming the CPM cast approximately 5,000 fraudulent votes and prevented 10,000 Congress supporters from voting. They further accuse the police of complicity, citing a failure to intervene despite prior warnings and the alleged inaction of the Kozhikode commissioner when contacted. The Congress described the attacks as a “Kannur model,” referring to the state’s history of politically motivated violence.
The Congress reported injuries among its workers, including the alleged manhandling of women voters. They claim CPM activists, many with fake ID cards, arrived at the polling station as early as 4 am. The party is demanding the election be cancelled. The CPM has yet to respond to these allegations.
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