Idukki, 16 Oct (H.S.): A dawn-to-dusk hartal called by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) over unresolved land issues is being observed across Idukki district on Friday, prompting authorities to postpone higher secondary and university examinations.

The shutdown, from 6 am to 6 pm, seeks government intervention in longstanding land disputes affecting residents. The party has also demanded that authorities abandon alleged moves to classify Cardamom Hill Reserve (CHR) areas as forestland and create elephant corridors.

CPM district secretary C V Varghese announced exemptions for several categories of vehicles and events to minimise disruption to scheduled programmes and visitors entering the district.

The sports meet at Nedumkandam has been exempted. Vehicles carrying PRDS members to celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of the abolition of slavery will also be allowed to operate.

Tourist vehicles arriving from outside Idukki, along with vehicles entering the district for other purposes, have been excluded from the shutdown, Varghese said.

The Idukki district committee of the Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi has extended support to the hartal.

The traders’ organisation has separately organised a march and dharna outside the Union Bank office in Kattappana on Friday morning against an alleged Central government move to impose an additional surcharge on UPI transactions.

Meanwhile, the first-year higher secondary improvement examination scheduled for Friday has been postponed in view of the hartal.

The postponement applies to examinations scheduled at centres across Kerala, the Gulf region, Lakshadweep and Mahe. Authorities said a revised examination date would be announced later.

Mahatma Gandhi University has also postponed all examinations scheduled for Friday, October 16, because of the shutdown.

University authorities said the revised examination dates had been published on its website.

The examination changes extend the impact of the district hartal beyond Idukki, affecting higher secondary candidates at centres elsewhere in Kerala and in the overseas examination network.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman