More than 1,700 people, including 650 women, were arrested on Wednesday when they attempted to picket Central government offices, block trains and buses in Ramanathapuram and Sivaganga districts, as the one-day strike called by trade unions, pressing for a 12-point charter of demands, evoked mixed response.
Normal life remained unaffected as buses and autorickshaws plied as usual and shops and commercial establishments remained opened. Services in banks, post offices, insurance, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and revenue department, however, were hit as less number of workers turned up for duty.
Workers owing allegiance to the Labour Progressive Front, CITU and AITUC, volunteers of the Communist party of India (Marxist) and members of Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Thozhilar Sangam courted arrest after they attempted to picket Central government offices and stage rail and bus roko in the two districts.
In Ramanathapuram, a total of 936 people, including 425 women, were arrested for attempting to picket Central government offices and staging road roko at nine places. Those arrested included 28 members of the Vivasayigal Sangam, including seven women who attempted to block a train at the Railway station here, police said.
In Sivaganga, a total of 770 people, including 224 women, were arrested when they attempted to agitate at seven places, including Sivaganga, Karaikudi, Tirupathur, Devakottai and Manamadurai, police said.
Services in the Insurance, BSNL, Postal departments, Income Tax and Auditing were worst hit in the two districts as more than 70 per cent of the workers joined the strike, police said. More than 70 per cent employees in the Revenue department joined the strike while the attendance was normal in all the other departments, police added. Though drivers and conductors, who were members of the LPF and other trade unions affiliated to the Left parties, failed to turn up for work, the State Transport Corporations managed normal bus services in the two districts by involving the temporary workers.
Dindigul
The strike did not affect the routine life in Dindigul and Theni districts. Private and public vehicles and autorikshaws plied as usual. However, bankers’ strike disrupted financial transactions.
More than 900 members of various trade unions were arrested in Dindigul as they attempted to picket trains and roads at various places.
A total of 109 persons, including 44 women, were arrested at Dindigul railway station as they tried to enter the station to block train. Eighty members of CPI (M) were arrested at Iyyalur as they sat on railway track.
Tannery workers staged a demonstration in front of Begampur post office and members of LPF, BMS, HMS, CITU, AITUC and other trade unions staged demonstrations in front of Dindigul Head Post Office.
Earlier, they took out a rally from the central bus stand to post office. More than 2,000 tannery workers struck work. Members of various pensioners’ associations observed a fast near the Corporation office in support of the bandh. Construction workers took out a rally from Karur Road and staged a demonstration in front of Labour Office at Nehruji Nagar. A section of TASMAC shops workers too did not attend duty.
Members of Medical Representatives Association also took out a motorcycle rally in the town.
Theni
A total of 983 trade union members were arrested in the district. Approximately 30 per cent of government staff did not attend duty. Picketing and demonstration were held in 20 places in the district.
