The Communist Party of India (Marxist) organised Rail Rokos at Nagapattinam and Mayiladuturai and protests at various other places in the district on a spate of issues and demands on Wednesday.
The protests demanded Centre’s intervention to check price rise in essential commodities and halt futures trading in commodities. Further, the demands included clearance of Centre’s share of pending insurance compensation; renovation of dilapidated group houses given under the group housing scheme; introduction of Nagore to Chennai rail facility along with introduction of pending rail schemes for the district; and opposition to the proposal to shift the regional office of the Indian Overseas Bank, the district Lead Bank to Thiruvarur considering it would impinge on the availability of institutional credit at the tail-end if the Delta.
At Mayiladuturai, protesters headed by A.V.Murugayyan, District Secretary, CPI(M), had reportedly proceeded forcing away the barricades, when their entry in the railway station was blocked. Further, three protesters had reportedly forced their entry into the train and had pulled the chains to halt. However, the train had proceeded.
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In Nagapattinam, Rail roko headed by V. Marimuthu, MLA, blocked the Nagore-Thajavur train. Nagai Maali, District Secretary, CITU headed the protests at the Tahsildar’s office in Porayar. Similar protests were held at Vedaranyam, Thalainayar, Keezhvelur and Keezhayur. Protesters courted arrest throughout the district.