As many as 140 retrenched employees of the Public Works Department, who were disengaged on the directions of the Election Commission, were arrested on Monday when they attempted to surrender their election identity cards to the Election Department in Reddiyarpalayam. As many as 3,080 appointments carried out by the previous AINRC Government in various departments were scrapped by the Election Commission.
Raising slogans in support of their demands, the agitators picketed the Election Department. Police personnel who were deployed in front of the office prevented them from entering inside following which the agitators attempted to surrender their election identity cards.
The protesters urged the authorities to reinstate them immediately as a majority of them were sole bread-winners of their families. The protesters including 40 women were evicted from the spot and taken in a police vehicle.
Meanwhile, another group of retrenched staff sat on a dharna in front of the Legislative Assembly seeking re-instatement. Police personnel pacified them following which they withdrew their protest.
