Reporter and photographer of the Times of India and Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi were held up by the protestors of samyukta samara samithi for about an hour at Vellaikadavu on Monday. The protestors turned rough with the media after the photographers captured the protesters blocking the vehicles near Vellaikadavu bridge.
The lensmen were asked to delete the pictures they captured. The protestors threatened that they would not let the journos go until the photos were deleted. However, the photographer didn't budge and this infuriated them. One among them even tried to manhandle Sreekesh, the lensman of Mathrubhumi and snatched his mobile phone.
Although some of the locals tried to calm down the protestors, they did not relent. In the meantime, they did not even let an autorickshaw carrying a patient go via Vellakadavu. As tension mounted, police was alerted and the protesters were chased away by police.