A journalist with a Tamil weekly has alleged he was assaulted by the Kerala police while attempting to visit Thekkuvattai in Palakkad district where Kerala is constructing a check dam across River Bhavani. Condemning the alleged incident, around 50 journalists under the banner of Federation of All Press Unions and Clubs staged a demonstration in Coimbatore on Tuesday.

Recounting the experience, Gomathi Sankar of Kumutham weekly, alleged comments by Kerala police against the people of Tamil Nadu. While returning, he was followed for at least six km. until he reached Chavadi Pudur on the Tamil Nadu border.