Hundreds of inter-state migrant labourers took to the streets at Paippad in Kerala's Kottayam district on Sunday defying the nationwide lockdown, The New Indian Express reported.

Over around 10,000 migrant labourers, mostly from West Bengal and Assam, live in labour camps in Paippad gram panchayat.

The New Indian Express report quoted a local resident as saying “Labourers in a majority of the camps have been starving since Saturday evening and they reportedly lodged a complaint in this regard to the Panchayat. But despair gave way to anger as they were denied food on the next morning and afternoon as well,”

The protest began at 11.30 am when the inter-state migrants, mostly from West Bengal and Assam, staged a blockade on the Changanassery-Mallappilly Road.

According to reports, they also demanded immediate arrangements to go back to their native places.

As the attempts by the local police and the Payippad Panchayat authorities to pacify the protesters, District Collector P K Sudheeer Babu and District Police Chief G Jaidev assured them that free food and and accommodation would be provided during the lockdown period.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister P Thilothaman claimed that the district administration has been providing food and accommodation and alleged that the laourers have been instigated to stage protests.