Mullaperiyar row: Sabarimala pilgrims from TN return mid-way

Thiruvananthapuram/Chennai, Dec 7: Tension over Kerala's Mullaperiyar dam worsened on Wednesday, Dec 7 when Lord Ayyappa devotees from Tamil Nadu decided to return to their home towns mid-way without visiting Sabarimala.

The pilgrims, who were stranded at Cumbum where Sec 144 was imposed following the reports of attacks on Tamilians, returned back to their towns.

Devotees expressed grief at the situation where they were compelled to change their plans of visiting Sabrimala. "It is distressing because we have prepared for the Sabarimala trip with great devotion," media reports quote one of the pilgrims as saying.

Kerala Police on Monday had banned any gathering of more than five people near Kumily town, Idukki after protestors from Kerala and Tamil Nadu clashed over the Mullaperiyar dam issue.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that protesting against Kerala's stand to construct a new dam, MDMK leader Vaiko is set to stage a day-long fast at Theni district on Thursday.

OneIndia News