Coimbatore: Fearing attacks in neighbouring Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) on Monday cancelled its bus services to the state from here.
TNSTC cancelled all buses from here to Palakkad, Guruvayoor and Thrissur in Kerala, following reports of attacks in the neighbouring state on buses bearing Tamil Nadu registration, mainly keeping the safety of passengers in mind, official sources said.
TNSTC buses coming from other districts going to Kerala via Coimbatore were also asked not to ply for security reasons, they said. They did not elaborate whether the cancellation of bus service would continue tomorrow. The sudden decision has affected the movement of large number of daily passengers towards Kerala.
Meanwhile, shops, bakeries and eateries, run by Keralites in nearby Tirupur district downed shutters for two days starting from today, condemning the attitude of Kerala on the dam issue. Through posters put up near their closed shops, they appealed to the Kerala government to allow the people from Kerala to earn their livelihood and to live peacefully in Tamil Nadu, without involving in or inciting violence against Tamils there, police said.
The vessel manufacturing units in Anupparpalayam on Tirupur outskirts also stopped production for one day, expressing solidarity with the Tamil Nadu government on the dam issue.
The units also wanted the Centre to immediately commission the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project in order to "save them from power shortage," police added.
PTI