A dawn-to-dusk hartal, called by BJP potesting police action against its activists in Thrippunithura here, affected normal life in Ernakulam district today.

Educational institutions, shops and commercial establishments remained closed in most parts of the district, while the state-owned transport corporation KSRTC operated only skeleton bus services.

Many passengers were stranded in bus and railway stations while attendance was thin at banks, government and private offices.

The BJP Ernakulam District committee has alleged that the party workers were brutally lathicharged by police yesterday when they were seeking justice for a Dalit student at RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Thrippunithura, who attempted to end her life after a proposed marriage failed due to rumours allegedly spread by SFI activists in the campus.

The hartal was observed against the police action and seeking justice to the Dalit girl student who attempted to kill herself after posters defaming her appeared on walls of her college and hostel premises.

The girl's engagement was called off following the incidents, they alleged.