Cadre of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to the CPI (M) on Wednesday laid a siege to the offices of the Revenue Divisional Officers in Thanjavur, Pattukkottai and Kumbakonam demanding water release in the Cauvery for samba paddy cultivation.
Around 100 cadre who participated in the protest were arrested. They were let off later in the evening.
The demands included immediate release of Cauvery water to help farmers take up samba paddy cultivation, fixing price for farm produce at 50 % above the cost of cultivation, grant of crop insurance to all registered and eligible farmers, waiver of all farm loans availed from cooperative and commercial banks, abolishing tatkal system for electrification of farm pump sets, energisation of pump sets of all farmers who have applied but are waiting in queue, increase procurement price of milk and more fund to desilt irrigation channels and water sources.
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In Thanjavur, cadre from Thanjavur, Tiruvaiyaru and Budalur Unions gathered in front of the RDO office when 26 protesters led by the Sangam district secretary Samy Natarajan were arrested. In Kumbakonam, cadre belonging to Papanasam, Kumbakonam, Tiruvaidaimarudur and Tirupanandal unions gathered in front of the Kumbakonam Sub-Collector’s office and tried to lay siege to the office and police picked up 25 persons including Sangam district president N.V. Kannan.
In Pattukkottai, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam cadre belonging to Pattukkottai, Orthanad, Madukkoor and Peravurani unions and led by Sangam district treasurer M. Palaniayya tried to lay siege to the RDO office when police arrested 46 people.
About 115 persons were detained when they resorted to the agitation in front of the RDO office in Nagapattinam district.
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In Mayiladuthurai, another group of 65 sugarcane growers were arrested when they resorted to a road roko demanding payment of arrears due to farmers from the Thalaignayiru Cooperative Sugar Mill.