Police arrested 409 cadre of Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) for staging demonstrations at 14 places in Thanjavur district on Tuesday against the suspension of six DMDK MLAs from Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Agitations were held at various places, including Thanjavur, Thiruvaiyaru, Thiruvonam, Kumbakonam, and Ammapettai.
Pudukottai
DMDK cadre, including women, organised road roko agitations at five centres in the district. The cadre , led by N. Jahir, marched from the party office to the new bus stand and sat on the road. They raised slogans against the ruling party and demanded withdrawal of the suspension.
The police rushed to the spot and arrested them . Srinivasamoorthy, avaithalaivar of the party, Senthilkumar, district deputy secretary, Singamuthu, Pudukottai town secretary, were among those taken into custody.
Similar agitations were held at Annavasal, Viralimalai, Ponnamaravathi, and Tirumayam towns, and the police removed and arrested them.
Perambalur
The police arrested 64 DMDK cadre, including two women, when they picketed the buses in front of the new bus stand in Perambalur town this morning. Durai Kamaraj, district secretary of the party, led the agitation.
Ariyalur
In Ariyalur district, road roko agitation were organised in Ariyalur town and Jayankondam, Tirumanur, Senthurai, T.Pazhur, and Andimadapam. The cadre, led by Ramajayavel, district secretary, marched in procession from party office and picketed the buses in front of the bus stand in Ariyalur town. The police arrested about 175 cadre from these centres.
Karur
Police arrested a total of 103 cadre when they staged a road roko on the Kovai Road here. Led by the party district secretary N.S. Krishnan, the cadre assembled in front of the Tangedco office on the Kovai Road and raised slogans denouncing the State government’s move.
The cadre then tried to stop road traffic when the police intervened and took them away.
All those arrested were later let off in the evening.