Cauvery row: day-long bandh begins in Tamil Nadu
A dawn-to-dusk bandh called by several farmers and traders bodies over the raging Cauvery dispute began today across Tamil Nadu amid tight security with Opposition parties, including the DMK, supporting it.
As those who had given the bandh call have said a series of protests, including “road and rail roko”, will be held, thousands of police personnel have been deployed across the state to maintain law and order.
Police said tight vigil was being maintained and no attempts to mar public peace or disruption of free movement of transportation — on road or rail — would be allowed.
The bandh has been called in protest against the violence targeting Tamils in Karnataka and also to seek Cauvery water for the state.
Barring the ruling AIADMK, its allies and trade unions affiliated, all other Opposition parties, including the DMK, Tamil Nadu Congress, DMDK, MDMK, Left parties and the PMK, are supporting the bandh.
Protection was being provided for Karnataka-related business establishments, schools, institutions and areas where Kannada speaking people live, including Krishnagiri district.
The updates:
10.49 am: Former DMK minister P.R. Periyakaruppan and more than 500 DMK men arrested in Sivaganga, when they tried to stage a rail roko agitation. Buses ply but almost all shops remain shut in the district.
Normalcy prevails in Ramanathapuram district. – D.J. Walter Scott reports
10.45 am: Former Minister and Nagercoil DMK MLA N. Suresh Rajan, Kanniyakumari DMK MLA S. Austin stage protest before Nagercoil Junction. – R. Arivanantham reports
10.42 am: CPI leader C. Mahendran courts arrest at Thanjavur. – M. Balaganessin reports
10.25 am: Farmers’ leader P.R.Pandian with DMK cadres stages rail roko in Saidapet Railway Station.
10.20 am: Rail roko by opposition parties affects EMU train services in Chennai.
10.15 am: DMK leader and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi courts arrest on Anna Salai in Chennai.
10.10 am: MDMK leader Vaiko arrested in Tiruchi after he along with party cadres attempted to stage rail roko at Tiruchi Junction.
10.01 am: Stalin and four DMK MLAs court arrest before Egmore Railway Station.
9.50 am: VCK Leader Thol.Thirumavalavan and the party cadres court arrest near Basin Bridge in Chennai.
9.42 am: Shops, commercial establishments and all petrol bunks remain closed in Cuddalore district. Government and private schools remained open. Government buses are plying as usual while private buses and autos stayed off the roads.
An employee relaxes at a petrol bunk in Coimbatore. Photo: Periasamy
9.40 am: Leader of Opposition and DMK leader M.K.Stalin leads a party rally towards Egmore Railway Station. – R. Sivaraman reports
9.35 am: Karnataka has stationed additional force at Athibelli border. DMK cadres led by Thally MLA Y. Prakash court arrest attempting train blockade in Hosur – P.V. Srividya reports.
9.32 am: Our Reporter V.V. Subramaniam reports: In Kancheepuram, State Transport Corporation buses and private buses are running.
MDMK leader Vaiko leading a demonstration in Tiruchi. Photo: M. Moorthy
9.50 am: Following intervention from traders’ associations, shops are being closed now in Tirunelveli district. After transacting business for about 3 hours, the shops are getting closed now.
9.40 am: Police officials assure security to IT companies, private colleges.
9.30 am: In Coimbatore, government buses are plying as usual. DMK MLA Karthik stages rail roko in Singanallur.
9.30 am: DMK cadres try to block train at Korukkupet in Chennai
9.10 am: Buses seems to be running as usual in Chennai’s arterial roads.
Activists picketing at Puducherry bus stand. Photo: S.S. Kumar
9.00 am: Over 500 DMK men led by party MLA and former Chennai mayor M..Subramanian court arrest near Saidapet Railway station.
8.30 am: Heavy security beefed up in railway stations in Chennai.
7.30 am: Several local grocery shops, which usually open by daybreak, remained shut in view of the protests.
7.00 am: State transport corporation-run buses besides trains are being operated as usual though autos, taxis and commercial freight operators remained off the roads.
6.00 am: Thousands of police personnel, including armed reserve forces, have been deployed in Tamil Nadu and in Chennai over 15,000 policemen are on duty.
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