Dam row: Malayalis shops attacked in Erode

Erode (TN), Dec 15: Shops and business establishments run by Malayalis downed shutters in the district today following an attack on two bakeries run by people from Kerala by a group of 19 persons over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, police said.

The alleged offenders, who were later secured by the police, attacked the two shops on Cauvery Road here with sticks and stones in the morning, smashing glass doors and windowpanes, police said.

Shop owners hailing from Kerala immediately downed shutters following the attack.

The offenders, who were identified as fruit sellers at the municipal market here, also pelted stones against two locked jewelleries also run by Keralites, police said.

While Kerala is pressing for the construction of a new dam at Mullaperiyar citing safety concerns over the 116-year-old reservoir, Tamil Nadu has maintained that the dam is “as good as new” and accused its neighbouring state of whipping up a “fear psychosis” over the issue.

PTI