The violent incidents affected normal life in many parts of the southern State, a day after National Investigation Agency led multi-agency pan-India raids against PFI, accused of being a radical islamist outfit, arresting over 100 persons.

Cutting across cities towns, the hartal supporters took out protest marches, burnt tyres on roads, blocked vehicles and forcefully downed the shutters of shops in various places. Face-covering gangs unleashed violence and attacked shops in Kozhikode, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts.

Kerala State Road Transport buses, freight lorries and airport vehicles were widely attacked and pelted with stones across the State. An ambulance was not spared from stone-pelting in Thrissur district, causing concern. At least 50 KSRTC buses were damaged with their windscreens smashed and seats damaged. Over 10 of its employees suffered injuries in the stone pelting and related incidents, official sources said. In Erattupetta town of Kottayam district, police had to resort to lathi-charge to disperse activists supporting the hartal when they tried to block vehicles after gathering in large numbers, closed the shops and threatened the people who were travelling in private vehicles.

A hartal supporter allegedly hit two police personnel, who were on patrolling duty, with his motorcycle when they tried to stop him from abusing commuters at Pallimukku in Kollam.

Though he managed to escape from the spot, a manhunt was on to nab him, police said. Local media reported that a petrol bomb was hurled at a vehicle which was carrying newspapers for distribution at Narayanpara and a country-made bomb was thrown at a local BJP office in Mattannoor by unidentified persons- both in Kannur district.

PFI activists detained in Pune: More than 35 members of the Popular Front of India were detained on Friday while protesting outside the Pune District Collectorate against nationwide raids on the outfit by the National Investigation Agency a day earlier.

Senior Inspector Pratap Mankar of Bundgarden police station said 35-40 PFI activists were detained as they did not have permission from authorities to hold a protest.