Traders down shutters in delta districts

Road and rail rokos, and demonstrations mark DMK-sponsored bandh in support of farmers

Shops remain closed as part of the State-wide bandh called by DMK in Tiruvarur district on Tuesday.

Traders downed their shutters and thousands of cadre belonging to Opposition parties took to the streets in the delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, Karur and Pudukottai as part of the bandh called on Tuesday in support of farmers of the State.

The protesters staged road rokos, rail rokos and demonstrations to register their anger at the “lax attitude” of the Central and State governments towards the cause of farmers and their demands, which included setting up of a Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee.

They also highlighted other issues such as waiving of all farm loans and preventing neighbouring states from constructing reservoirs across rivers flowing into Tamil Nadu that had dominated the farmers’ struggle in New Delhi for more than 40 days.

Thanjavur

In Thanjavur district, a total of 2,830 people were arrested from 54 places for staging dharna. Most of the shops and trading establishments remained shut during the day. Auto rickshaws and taxis were off the roads. However, TNSTC managed to operate most of the buses even as members of the Opposition trade unions abstained from work.

The DMK, CPI(M), CPI, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, traders bodies, farmers organisations and others staged demonstration and dharna at the Old Bus Stand and courted arrest. Some 40 members of the Tamizhaga Cauvery Vivasayigal Sangam, attempting to stage rail roko near Thanjavur Junction, were picked up by the police. Several members of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam led by Manimozhian were arrested while trying to lay siege to the Head Post Office.

Road rokos and protests also marked the bandh observed in Kumbakonam, Tiruvidaimarudur, Papanasam, Tiruvaiyaru, Budalur, Ammapettai, Orathanad, Tiruvonam, Pattukkottai, Peravurani, Sethubavachatram, Adirampattinam and Madukkoor in the district.

Tiruvarur

More than 3,000 people, including 231 women, were arrested for staging road and rail rokos at 41 places in Tiruvarur district. BSNL Employees Union staged a demonstration in Tiruthuraipoondi, while 220 of the 1,580 TNSTC staff boycotted work.

Public transport services did not suffer although autos and taxis were not operated. Most of the shops remained shut.

In Tiruvarur town, the DMK working president, M.K. Stalin, led the dharna at the bus stand, where he along with former Union Minister T.R. Baalu, MLAs U. Mathivanan and Mahesh Anbil Poyyamozhi, DMK district secretary Poondi Kalaivanan, Congress district president S.M.B. Duraivelan, CPI (M) district secretary Nagarajan, CPI's former MLA G. Palanisamy and VCK district secretary Vadivazhagan were among those arrested.

Nagapattinam

In Nagapattinam district, dharnas were held in 33 places including Nagapattinam town, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkali, Poompuhar, Vedaranyam, Talaignayar, Keezhvelur and Kollidam in which 3,450 people were arrested. At Mayiladuthurai, around 20 persons were arrested when they attempted to block the Cholan Express.

Karur

The DMK-sponsored bandh passed off peacefully in Karur district. Almost all shops and business establishments remained closed in places like Karur, Kulithalai, Chinna Dharapuram and Aravakurichi. Several textile and mosquito net making units also downed shutters. Similarly, bus body building units also remained closed.

Cadres of various parties, including the DMK, the Congress, the CPI and the CPI(M), resorted to road roko in nine places. A total of 532 persons, including DMK district secretary Nanniyur Rajendran and Kulithalai MLA Ramar, were among those arrested.

However, operation of bus services was not affected in the district. Both long distance and town buses plied as usual. About 50% of the auto rickshaws operated.

Pudukottai

Shops and commercial establishments remained closed in Pudukottai, Aranthangi, Alangudi, Gandharvakottai and other places.

DMK MLAs Periyannan Arasu, S.Reghupathy and Siva.V.Meyyanathan led protests in Pudukottai, Keramangalam and Avanam Kaikatti in the district. A large number of people from Neduvasal and neighbouring villages participated in the stir at Avanam Kaikatti urging the Centre to shelve the hydrocarbon exploration project.