Fifty six functionaries and cadre of the VCK including one woman were arrested at Chembala on the Gudalur-Kerala border on Sunday when they tried to enter Kerala to register their protest against the Kerala government’s obduracy in the Mullaperiyar issue.
The march towards Kerala commenced near the Gudalur municipality with the participants condemning the Kerala government for failing to honour the verdict of the Apex Court.
Stating that the order of the court should be implemented at all costs, they said that central forces should be deployed to guard the dam.
Tamils residing in Kerala or passing through the State should be given proper protection.
All those who have illegally occupied lands near the dam should be evicted.
The participants had planned to march through Marappalam, Nadugani and Kil-Nadugani to Kerala.
However the police erected barricades at Chembala and stopped the protesters. Demanding permission to proceed, they raised slogans against the Kerala government. However they were rounded up.
Security was provided to commercial establishments run by Keralites in and around Gudalur.
The Additional Superintendent of Police, Kasi Viswanathan told The Hindu that untoward incidents have not been reported from any part of Gudalur.
As a measure of precaution security has been beefed up in the area.