More than 200 arrested in Vellore district for staging road and rail roko

While 210 PMK men were arrested in Vellore district for staging road and rail rokos in various parts of the district, a total of 10 private and government buses were damaged due to bandh related violence in various parts of the district.

While some shops were shut in Gudiyattam, Pernambut and Tirupatthur municipalities, in many places, party cadre resorted to demonstrations to highlight their demand. In Vellore, they staged a demonstration in front of the head post office on Anna salai. While many private buses stayed off the road in the early hours of the day, normality resumed in the afternoon. Those arrested in Vellore included former central ministers NT Shanmugam and R Velu. 

In Tiruvannamalai district, rail rokos were staged at Tiruvannamalai, Polur and Kannamangalam stations, resulting in more than 200 partymen, including former MP M Durai, being arrested. However, no untoward incidents were reported from both districts.

The one day bandh called by PMK on Wednesday witnessed a good response in Ariyalur district, which is a stronghold of the party. Normal life was hit in the entire district, with most shops remaining closed. 

While the bandh in Tiruchy, where 70 cadre were arrested, had a lukewarm response, normal life was hit in the entire Ariyalur district as almost all the shops downed their shutters. The party cadre gathered large in numbers and took out a rally through the roads in Ariyalur town. They also blocked the Guruvayur express train. Attempts by the police to stop them failed as the cadre managed to gain entry into the railway station. Police arrested 450 cadre for blocking the train. Most of the streets including market road, Tiruchy road, Chinnakadai veedhi, Pudhumarket in Ariyalur town wore a deserted look on Wednesday. 

Similarly, shops situated at Tirumaanur, Jayankondam, Udayarpalayam, Andimadam, Meensurutti, T Palur, Senthurai and Ponparappi were also seen closed.