A hartal crippled day to day activities in the Batticaloa town and suburbs.

The hartal was organized by people to protest against the large number of disappearances and kidnappings in the district recently, Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunasekara told the media.

Activities in the Akkareipathu, Kalawanchikudi, Chenkalady and Valachchenai areas had come to a halt due to the protest, the spokesman added.

According to the police all the shops and the offices in those areas were closed and public transport was paralyzed.