Theni:
A day before the DMK fast, protesters opposing Mullaperiyar dam on Sunday gheraoed Tamil Nadu Finance Minister O Panneerselvam and threw slippers at him near Kumili at the Kerala border after he tried to pacify them following a lathicharge to quell their demonstration, which left 50 persons injured, police said.
The minister escaped unhurt and was later taken away from the spot via another route, they said.
According to the police, the violence broke out after a man told about 10,000 protesters on the Tamil Nadu side that he had been attacked by some persons while walking down a road in Kumili on the Kerala border.
This led to the crowd pelting stones at some people in Kerala, which was replied in kind. Police used lathicharge to disperse the crowd here, they said, adding their counterparts also controlled protesters on the other side.
Panneerselvam, who had gone to the spot to pacify them, tried in vain to stop the people, who gheraoed him and threw slippers at him.
The police said cases had been registered against more than 10 persons for indulging in violence.
The row over the dam has escalated in recent weeks, with Kerala insisting on a new dam to replace the 116-year-old structure, citing safety concerns, leading to attacks on Tamils and Keralites in some parts of both states.
Opposing Kerala's position,Tamil Nadu has said the dam is as good as a new one and moved the Supreme Court on the issue. The dam is located in Kerala, but controlled by Tamil Nadu on a 999 year lease.
Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has appealed for calm. She has called for a special session of the assembly on December 15th to pass a resolution on the issue.