Border tense as Mullaperiyar dam row peaks

THENI: Normal life almost came to a standstill along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border for the first time on Monday since the latest row over the Mullaiperiyar dam broke out. Traffic blockades even at minor intersections, sporadic violence targeted at Malayali-owned commercial establishments and effigy-burning of Kerala CM Oommen Chandy and other politicians were common scenes from Kumili (in Kerala) to the towns of Theni along Lower Camp, Gudalur, Cumbum and Chinnamannur (in Tamil Nadu).An attempted self-immolation by Selvapandi, a 19-year-old from Cumbum, and a demand by the Madurai Bar Association to get Idukki and other villages annexed to Tamil Nadu also  added fuel to the ongoing agitation.Acting promptly, Theni district authorities declared a holiday for schools on Monday in Gudalur, Lower Camp and Cumbum to ensure the safety of children.Visitors to the neighbouring areas, including a group of foreign tourists, were stranded due to the traffic blockade and were forced to trek to their destinations. District authorities said tension had escalated on the Tamil Nadu side of the border following reports that some Sabarimala pilgrims from Tamil Nadu were attacked by people in Kerala when their vehicle entered Kerala. Meanwhile, thousands of devotees bound to Sabarimala were stranded on the border near Gudalur for over 20 hours on Monday as protestors in Kerala refused to allow vehicles from Tamil Nadu to enter.Over the last few days, drivers of vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers complained that they were targeted by people in Kerala.“Our tolerance levels have been breached by the attack on harmless Ayyappa devotees. Those from Tamil Nadu who have gone to work in the tea estates in Kerala have been needlessly harassed,” said Kabilan, who had joined the agitators to burn tyres on the road to block traffic.Farmers, students, daily wage labourers also joined the protest. “This is the time for us to remain united as Tamils and take on the...aggression from Kerala,” said DMK functionary Ramesh of Gudalur.