Rally to mark fifth anniversary of Mullaperiyar stir

  Hundreds of people participated in a rally organised by the Mullaperiyar Action Council here on the fifth anniversary of its relay hunger strike on Sunday. The rally started from nearby junction Alady on the Kattappana-Kottayam road by 3.30 p.m. culminated at the venue of the council here.

Addressing the public, chairman of the Council C. P. Roy said that those offering the hunger strike should not be considered as agitators or fighters. They were people who yearn for a solution to the issue vexing them. A peaceful solution to the issue could be made by changing the present position of the tunnel connecting the reservoir to Tamil Nadu so that Tamil Nadu could draw more water from the existing dam while the fears of the people here were addressed. He said that the dead water storage could be reduced if the tunnel connecting the pen stock pipes to Tamil Nadu was shifted.

It was a proposal accepted by the main farmers' organisation representing the five district of Tamil Nadu where the water from the dam is used for irrigation purposes.

Mr. Roy appealed the administration not to allow them to observe the sixth anniversary. What was required was a peaceful solution to the issue while addressing the fears of those who live in the downstream of the Mullaperiyar dam.

Red alert in Hyderabad for Babri anniversary

Police in Hyderabad have sounded a high alert ahead of Dec 6, the anniversary of the demolition of the Babri Masjid which is coinciding this year with Yaum-e-Ashoora, the 10th day of Muharram.
Security has been stepped up across the Andhra Pradesh capital, especially in the communally sensitive Old City.

Police have deployed additional forces to maintain peace in view of calls by various Muslim organisations to observe the day as 'black day' and also for the smooth conduct of the annual 'Moharram procession'.

Police are taking no chances in view of the recent communal attacks in the city. According to police, at least six activists of Hindu Vahini were arrested last month for attacks on members of a minority community.

Hyderabad Police commissioner AK Khan said known communal offenders were taken into custody as part of measures to avert any untoward incident.

Police also launched vehicle checking operations in various parts of the city from Sunday evening.

Additional director general of Police SA Huda said additional paramilitary forces were also deployed to maintain law and order.

Every year, the police make elaborate arrangements for the historic 'Moharram' procession but as the day is coinciding with the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, police were making additional security arrangements.

Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT), a political party in the Old City, has called for a shutdown Tuesday as a mark of protest over the 1992 demolition. It is also demanding that the mosque be rebuilt on its original site at Ayodhya.