ALAPPUZHA: A day after violence rocked its usually peaceful environs, Pathirapally, seven km from Alappuzha, slowly limped back to normality on Wednesday even as over 500 policemen remained on alert near Palm Fibre Pvt. Ltd.

An eviction attempt by activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) here on Tuesday ended in hurling of stones and fisticuffs.

The all-party joint hartal called in the Mararikulam Assembly segment too passed off peacefully. The hartal had been called by all political parties in protest against the attack on the members of the Mannanchery panchayat while they were staging a dharna in front of the company on Tuesday.

Though a few groups held up traffic during protest marches and processions near the Mannanchery panchayat office and Netaji Junction, there were no untoward incidents.

Palm Fibre, portions of which were sealed by Revenue authorities after Tuesday's violence, remained closed. According to company officials and Revenue authorities, the area that the company had allegedly encroached upon would remain sealed till the Government decided on further action.

Police officials said investigation was on to identify those behind Tuesday's violence. Three separate cases were registered in connection with the incident, while nearly 20 persons were taken into preventive custody, some on Tuesday itself.

The police picket at Pathirapally and near Palm Fibre would continue for another day or two, till the situation returned to normal, Alappuzha Deputy Superintendent of Police K. Krishnankutty said.

Meanwhile, there were reports of attacks by unidentified persons on houses of around six Palm Fibre employees near Mannanchery on Tuesday night.

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