India, July 9 -- The Bharat Bandh called by central trade unions on Wednesday saw widespread disruption and scattered violence in Kerala, with public transport suspended and shops shut down forcibly.

According to a Janmbhumi report, in Kozhikode's Mukkam, a particularly disturbing incident unfolded when protest supporters, led by T Viswanathan - a CPM district secretariat member and CITU state committee member - allegedly threatened to set fire to a fish shop if it remained open. Witnesses claim they threatened to pour kerosene and burn it down, forcing the shop to shut.

Similar pressure tactics were reported across the state, including the forced closure of a mall as police allegedly looked on.

A report in Manorama stated that protest...