Theni (TN): Normal life was hit badly on Tuesday as tension continued to grip towns in the district bordering Kerala with unabated mass protest by villagers from Tamil Nadu over the Mullaperiyar dam row with the neighbouring state for the fourth day.
For the second straight day, Police made a lathicharge to stop hundreds of people from marching towards Kerala when they assembled at the border town of Gudalur. The situation on the Kerala side, however, remained calm.
Tamil Nadu IGP (South Zone) Rajesh Dass said over 1,000 people blocked traffic at Cumbum Mettu and dispersed while at Gudalur police made lathicharge to disperse the protesters.
In Theni district, bus traffic came to a stand still, shops and business establishments and educational institutions in various places remained closed while the agitation protesting Kerala's demand for a new dam across Mullaperiyar also hit farm work in cardamom estates on both sides of the border.
Road traffic between the two states remained affected at Bodi Mettu and Cumbum Mettu in Tamil Nadu and Kumily in Kerala, forcing devotees proceeding to the famous hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa to go by walk, officials said.
Police said bus services were stopped in the district after eight buses were damaged in stone pelting. A bakery was set on fire in Andipatti area. All educational institutes in the district have been closed.
Asked about rumours on attacks on Tamils working in Kerala estates, Dass said Tamil Nadu police were verifying every report with their counterpart in Kerala who had denied any such attacks.
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