<p>Alappuzha (Kerala): Tension gripped Nooranad in this coastal Kerala district on Friday as protests erupted over soil quarrying linked to the construction of a National Highway.</p>.<p>The conflict arose when local residents, including women, stopped trucks engaged in collecting soil, alleging the leveling of a nearby hill in Mattappally.</p>.<p>As the situation escalated, police were called to the scene. However, residents intensified their protest and did not yield to police's demand to let the vehicles go.</p>.<p>With a large number of protesters laying siege to the Kayamkulam-Punalur road, police forcefully removed them from the site.</p>.<p>Protesters, including women, could be seen being dragged by the police.</p>.<p>Ruling CPI(M) MLA M S Arun Kumar, who represents the Mavelikara constituency in the state Assembly, also joined the local people's protest.</p>.<p>The legislator, who protested by squatting on the road, reportedly suffered minor injuries in the melee.</p>.Bomb threat to Kerala Secretariat turns out to be hoax; man held.<p>Kumar later criticised the police action against the protesters and alleged the involvement of the soil mafia behind it.</p>.<p>He said it was not appropriate for the police to take sides with the soil mafia.</p>.<p>The police approach in the matter was against the stand of the LDF government, he added.</p>.<p>An angry local resident said they wouldn't allow them take any more soil from the hamlet.</p>.<p>"Even if we have to give our lives for the cause, we will do that. No one will be allowed to take any more soil from our land," he said.</p>.<p>Another man said all people are united on the issue, cutting across politics.</p>.<p>The protests were held under the aegis of Janakeeya Samithi, a group of local people. </p>
<p>Alappuzha (Kerala): Tension gripped Nooranad in this coastal Kerala district on Friday as protests erupted over soil quarrying linked to the construction of a National Highway.</p>.<p>The conflict arose when local residents, including women, stopped trucks engaged in collecting soil, alleging the leveling of a nearby hill in Mattappally.</p>.<p>As the situation escalated, police were called to the scene. However, residents intensified their protest and did not yield to police's demand to let the vehicles go.</p>.<p>With a large number of protesters laying siege to the Kayamkulam-Punalur road, police forcefully removed them from the site.</p>.<p>Protesters, including women, could be seen being dragged by the police.</p>.<p>Ruling CPI(M) MLA M S Arun Kumar, who represents the Mavelikara constituency in the state Assembly, also joined the local people's protest.</p>.<p>The legislator, who protested by squatting on the road, reportedly suffered minor injuries in the melee.</p>.Bomb threat to Kerala Secretariat turns out to be hoax; man held.<p>Kumar later criticised the police action against the protesters and alleged the involvement of the soil mafia behind it.</p>.<p>He said it was not appropriate for the police to take sides with the soil mafia.</p>.<p>The police approach in the matter was against the stand of the LDF government, he added.</p>.<p>An angry local resident said they wouldn't allow them take any more soil from the hamlet.</p>.<p>"Even if we have to give our lives for the cause, we will do that. No one will be allowed to take any more soil from our land," he said.</p>.<p>Another man said all people are united on the issue, cutting across politics.</p>.<p>The protests were held under the aegis of Janakeeya Samithi, a group of local people. </p>