Land acquisition officials sent back by agitating residents

Tension today prevailed near city airport after a group of residents allegedly stopped district officials from measuring land for expansion of the airport, a process pending for the past nine years.
The officials from Land Acquisition department had gone to Irugur and Chinniyampalam for measuring the land to take possession for the expansion, including runway, in 613 acres, police said.
Learning about their visit, a section of residents erected a pandal and hoisted black flags in protest stating that their houses will be demolished, once the runway was expanded.
However, police removed them from the area, since they had no permission to stage the protest, police said.

Meanwhile, some 200 residents, 'gheraoed' the officials and asked them to return as a case was pending in a court on the issue, police said.
The officials left the place without measuring the land, police said, adding, the protesters later dispersed.