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The Communist Party of India (Marxist) called for a shutdown in Kerala on Thursday to protest against the arrest of its senior leader P. Jayarajan in connection with the murder case of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) activist Abdul Shukkoor. The streets wore a deserted look in Thiruvananthapuram with business and life coming to a standstill. Meanwhile, locals complained that they faced a lot of problems due to the shutdown. "No this strike was not necessary. See Raja was also jailed but there was no strike in Tamil Nadu but there are various enquires and let them do it. The police is doing its work, let them do it," said Natish, a local. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder case arrested Jayarajan on Wednesday in Kannur district of the state. Political drama ruled Jayarajan's arrest on Wednesday after CPI (M) party workers resorted to shouting slogans and pelting stones at police. The police was forced to fire teargas shells in order to disperse the crowd. According to reports, 21-year-old Shukkoor was stabbed and beaten to death by alleged CPI-M workers on February 20 this year.

CPI (M) calls for shutdown in Kerala over Shukkoor murder