City police barricaded the Marina beach on Saturday following posts on social media about another jallikattu-type protest over the issues being faced by the state's farmers, reports ToI.
The promenade of the beach was reportedly guarded heavily at all entry points and only two paths near the light house and swimming pool were used. The police, reports suggest, even shut off access to the service lane, as they scanned the crowds entering the beach thoroughly.
Patrons who wore black shirts or t-shirts were thoroughly frisked and their mobile phones allegedly checked. The protest, announced on social media, was supposed to be a second major stir, aimed at addressing the Tamil Nadu farmers' issues and the Neduvasal hydrocarbon project. Top cops had reportedly instructed teams to keep an eye out for any gathering and to immediately remove people if they congregate on the beach without permission.
500 police personnel were deployed for the task.
Mylapore deputy commissioner of police S Saravanan told ToI, “Police personnel would take serious action against those spreading rumours about possible protests on Marina beach. There is no such incident taking place and police personnel are guarding the beach to avoid the protesters from gathering there.”
This is not the first time that such a protest has been announced on social media. On March 29, following similar tweets and Facebook posts, close to 10 youngsters stepped into the water at Marina beach with banners in hand to register their support for farmers who had entered day 16 of their protest in New Delhi. They were also agitating against the Neduvasal hydrocarbon project.
Police at the site reportedly told protesters that it was not safe for them to stand waist deep in water and advised them to stop their demonstration. Of the 10 protesters, the police convinced five to come out of the sea. Five others, however, refused to come out. Following this, policemen, with the help of local fishermen, forcefully pulled them out of the water.