VILLUPURAM: Tension prevailed after police demolished a wall, claimed to be unauthorised, raised by the Dalits of V Puthupalayam Colony along the state highway near Villupuram to paint the portrait of Dr Ambedkar, on Wednesday.
Dalits of the colony blocked Valavanur-Madukarai state highway in protest against the action by the police.
Sources said the Dalits decided to build a wall near their habitation along the highway and do up the wall with a portrait of Ambedkar in view of his 124th birth anniversary falling on April 14.
The wall, however, was built without taking permission from the revenue, police and highway departments. Caste Hindus of the village had objected to building the wall and asked the Dalits to stop the work, but the latter continued and finished the construction a few days ago and also began the painting activity.
Sensing a case for a possible law and order problem, some policemen had descended on the spot on Tuesday night and started bringing the wall down using crowbars, under the cover of darkness. Spotting the cops demolishing the wall, Dalits gathered there immediately and as tension grew, the police left the work at that and moved away.