The Aryankavu-Shencotta stretch of the Kollam-Thirumangalam National Highway 208 wears a deserted look following the road blockade exercise by the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhakam at Shencotta from 10 a.m. No vehicles are being allowed to proceed to Kerala from Schencotta in Tamil Nadu and no vehicles are being allowed to proceed to Tamil Nadu from Aryankavu in Kerala. An uneasy calm prevails along this stretch of the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border area.
But at Aryankavu and Schencotta there is a heavy crush of vehicles waiting to resume journey as soon as the blockade is lifted. Police anticipate a snarl-up along the blocked stretch of the highway once the blockade is lifted. While a heavy police force from Kerala is manning the Aryankavu point, a heavy force of the Tamil Nadu police is manning the Shencotta point.
Those held up on either side include thousands of Sabarimala pilgrims. The MDMK had called the blockade to protest against the Kerala Government’s demand to decommission the 117 year old Mullaperiyar dam. On Tuesday night at least three KSRTC buses and Kerala registration lorry were stoned at Kottavasal. A restaurant run by a Keralite at Kottavasal in Tamil Nadu close to the border was also attacked.
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