Traffic was hit for nearly an hour on the Tondiarpet-Tiruvottiyur Main Road in north Chennai on Wednesday, after more than 200 cadres of the VCK blocked the stretch, as part of an anti-Sri Lanka protest.
Police said around 10 a.m., a large number of VCK cadres led by the party’s north Chennai president, C. Sounder, blocked the busy stretch in front of the Government Peripheral Hospital in Tondiarpet and raised slogans against the Indian and Sri Lankan governments.
A strong police contingent from New Washermenpet and Tondiarpet were present to ensure no untoward incidents occurred.
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Despite police trying to pacify the protesters and asking them to disperse peacefully, the cadres did not budge. Police then arrested them, but released them later in the evening.
Meanwhile, over 100 students from different educational institutions staged a road roko on Kamarajar Salai.
The students attempted to enter the All India Radio station opposite the lighthouse, but were stopped by a contingent of police personnel.
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The agitators raised slogans and attempted to burn the effigy of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Police arrested the students and lodged them in a marriage hall nearby.
They were released later in the day.