Cops prevent scribes from covering protest

Heavy police deployment was made at the site near the collectorate in a bid to thwart the protest against the project. Sources said that the protesters were planning to hold a black flag stir to register their opposition to the proposed expressway. 

Police tried to prevent the reporter of a Tamil daily, who was present with a CPM functionary, from covering the protest which led to an heated argument. When the crew of a Malayalam daily attempted to click pictures, cops foiled their attempt by seizing their cameras. 

The crew members were identified as Anoop Das, reporter, Murugan, cameraman and Razack, driver. They were subsequently taken to the Tiruvannamalai east police station. 

However, the crew was allowed to go after they showed their identity cards. But, the other two, the Tamil daily reporter and the CPM functionary, were detained at the station till evening and then freed by the police. No case was registered in this connection.