The Mullaperiyar row between Kerala and Tamil Nadu continued to create tension in the border area of Kumily on Sunday.
Trouble started after a group of around 1,000 people marched towards the check-post from the Tamil Nadu side in the morning. The mob was protesting against Kerala’s demand for the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar.
After being blocked by a strong police posse, they conducted a sit-in about 50 metres away from the check-post.
The protesters then turned violent and slippers were allegedly thrown at Tamil Nadu finance minister O. Panneerselvam, who had arrived for talks with them. Following this, the Tamil Nadu police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the agitators.
Earlier, the Kerala police erected barricades to prevent the protesters from crossing over to Kerala. However, some persons evaded the police barriers and entered the state.
The Kumily check post has been closed for the last two days following the recent tensions. Traffic through the Kollam-Theni national highway has been disrupted because of this.
The inspector general (Ernakulam range), Ms Sreelekha, who visited Kumily to take stock of the situation there, said that more police personnel would be deployed along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border to prevent untoward incidents. Prohibitory orders have been clamped in Kumily for three more days.