Traffic partially restored across border

Kumily sub-inspector Fiinny Varghese told The Hindu on Sunday that there was complete peace prevailing in the area but it might be because of fear that the Kerala vehicles were not moving to Tamil Nadu. A large number of vehicles carrying Sabarimala pilgrims crossed the border to and fro.

The eased tension here was evident as people moved freely across the check posts and there were also large number of people on the streets despite Sunday being a holiday.

The traffic through the Cumbom Mettu was almost normal, reports reaching here said.

Idukki Superintendent of Police George Varghese had convened a meeting of the Hindu organisations and peoples representatives on Saturday evening and Hindu Aikyavedi president Kummanam Rajasekharan read out a message issued by Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy appealing normalisation of the situation here. Mr. George Vargese also held telephonic talks with his counter part in Theni district and there was a co-ordinated move to restore normalcy across the border.

The police had placed a banner across the road welcoming the Sabarimala pilgrims and vehicles carrying pilgrims from other States also crossed the border. The police had erected a tent for Ayyappa devotees with water and other facilities there.

The Kumily sub-inspector said that the work on the tent was delayed this season due to the tension prevailing across the border. The police were making the facility for the past four years.

A Tamil Nadu police jeep was seen crossing the border moving on the town this part clearly indicating a cordial co-ordination at the official level between the two States.