Tiruvannamalai: Communist Party of India members were arrested here on Saturday for staging a rail roko over jallikattu ban.
Led by by All India Youth Federation national general secretary R. Thirumalai, the cadre entered the tracks near Tiruvannamalai railway station and blocked the Villupuram – Purulia Superfast Express for four minutes and raised slogans. Twenty-nine of them were immediately arrested by the police.
On its part, the CPI (M) observed a fast condemning the Centre for not taking due action to lift the ban on jallikkattu, near Anna Statue. District Secretary of the party M. Sivakumar led the fast. Party state committee member M. Veerabadran, other party functionaries S.Balaraman, S.Karuna and others took part.
Meanwhile, the protest by the youth in front of the taluk office somehow lost steam on Saturday. Number of participants dwindled and there was no rush and zeal that was evident in previous days. Still there were sizeable crowd sitting under the series of sheds erected on a lane. The participants observed a silent protest. Film director Raju Murugan addressed the participants.
Even after hearing the news that the Governor had cleared the ordinance to hold jallikattu, the protesters did not leave the place. They sought a permanent solution to the issue.
