A high drama was played out near the Kulikkarai railway station in Tiruvarur district on Tuesday when the Tamil Nadu All Farmers' Associations Coordination Committee leader P.R. Pandian and his supporters staged a rail roko as part of the Opposition-sponsored bandh in support of the farmers’ demands.
Mr. Pandian and his supporters blocked the Tiruchi-Nagore passenger train outside the Kulikkarai station for about an hour when Superintendent of Police (in charge) Durai arrived at the spot. Even as the police were trying to pacify the protesters, irate passengers wanted to know from the protesters when the agitation would end and the train would be allowed to proceed, increasing the tension in the air.
With the scorching sun making matters worse, the police again pleaded with the protesters to end the rail roko, which the supporters of Mr. Pandian rejected. They continued with the agitation, forcing the police to remove them from the spot.
In the melee, a farmer reportedly swooned and fell while Mr. Pandian’s supporters claimed that five of them were injured in the tussle with the police. In all, 90 persons were arrested for staging the rail roko.
