Several Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) cadre courted arrest in the ‘jail bharo’ agitations organised at different places in the district on Wednesday condemning the ruling AIADMK government for ‘foisting’ cases on DMK senior leaders and functionaries on various charges.
Heeding a State-wide ‘jail bharo’ agitation call given by the DMK high command, over 3,000 party workers took part in the agitations that was organised at nine places in the district. The protest near the collectorate was led by the former Transport Minister and DMK district secretary K.N. Nehru.
Carrying party flags, the cadre raised slogans against the AIADMK government for foisting cases against DMK members before they were arrested. The arrested functionaries were taken in police vehicles and in State Transport Corporation buses and lodged in various marriage halls within the city.
In a brief interaction with the media before being arrested, Mr. Nehru said the DMK could not be wiped out by foisting cases against its members. A posse of police personnel were deployed near the collectorate in connection with the agitation with the Commissioner of Police Shailesh Kumar Yadav monitoring the security arrangements.
Barricades were put up near the Vestry School circle and near the collectorate where police personnel armed with lathis and tear gas guns were deployed as part of the bandobust arrangements.
DMK functionaries also courted arrest at Srirangam, Manapparai, Thuraiyur, Musiri, Thottiyam, Manachanallur, Lalgudi and Tiruverambur. Former Minister N. Selvaraj, former Deputy Mayor M. Anbazhagan and former MLA Anbil Periyasamy were among those arrested in the agitations.
Those arrested were later released.
