The police today arrested hundreds of cadre of Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi (TVK) when they attempted to picket the trains in Salem city and two other centres in the district on Monday demanding international probe into the massacre of innocent Tamils during the military offensive by the Sri Lankan Government in 2009.
They also demanded the Centre to implement the resolutions adopted by the Tamil Nadu Assembly on this issue.
The State Assembly recently asked the Centre to move a resolution in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for an international probe into the alleged war crimes and genocide in the final phase of the civil war in Sri Lanka.
Led by U. Kannan, headquarters secretary of the TVK, staged a demonstration in front of the Salem Railway Junction, raising slogans highlighting the demands.
Later, they attempted to enter the Railway Junction, when the police prevented and took about 350 of them into preventive custody.
The TVK cadre attempted similar rail roko agitation in Omalur and Magudanchavadi Railway stations too.
The police arrested 330 at Omalur and another 332 at Magudanchavadi, police source said.
Meanwhile, the cadre of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) staged a demonstration in front of the head post office in the city demanding international probe into the massacre of innocent Tamils in the island.
In Namakkal, cadre of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhatgam staged a demonstration in front of the Anna statue in the town.
Special Correspondent from Erode adds:
In Erode, over 150 members of the TVK were arrested when they attempted picketing at the Railway Junction.
They came in a procession from Kalai Maadu statue and staged a demonstration. All the protestors were released later in the day, police sources said.
