Tamil activists attack Lankan tourists

The issue of Sri Lankan tourists in Tamil Nadu became a bigger controversy on Tuesday, with Tamil activists attacking the visitors who had gone to the Velankanni Church, around 320 kilometres away from the state capital. About 175 tourists were safely escorted by the police to the Tiruchirapalli airport, after the activists staged demonstrations. They were scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka late on Tuesday, a senior police officer said.

Shailesh Kumar Yadav, the commissioner of police, Trichy, said that another six Lankan tourists later joined the group at the airport.

According to the police, the Lankan tourists were travelling in seven buses. A tyre of one bus got punctured on the outskirts of Trichy and MDMK activists came to know about their presence in the state. Around 30 MDMK cadres gathered around the buses and shouted slogans and also pelted stones at the buses, police said. 

According to the police, no serious injuries were caused to the tourists. The police dispersed the protesters and escorted the Lankan tourists to the airport.

The Sri Lankan government has issued a statement on Monday night, warning its nationals to desist from visiting Tamil Nadu till further notice.