Thousands of Left party workers arrested in TN

Chennai, Jun 13 (UNI) Thousands of Left party workers, including CPI National Secretary D Raja, were arrested in Tamil Nadu, even as trucks and autos were off the roads today to protest against the steep hike in the prices of petroleum products effected by the Centre.

Police sources told UNI here today that more than 12,000 workers, belonging to the CPI(M), CPI, trade unions like CITU, AITUC were arrested across the state for staging protest demonstrations to condemn the hike.

In Chennai city alone, more than 2,000 workers, including Mr Raja, were arrested.

However, the Left parties claimed that more than 25,000 of their party workers courted arrest in the state.

Before staging the demonstration, the agitators took out a rally from Kuralagam, near Anna Memorial, to the Flower Bazaar telephone exchange.

Among those arrested in the city were CPI(M) State executive member A Soundararajan, District Secretary T K Shanmugham, CPI district Secretary M Sampath, CITU General Secretary T K Rengarajan and AITUC General Secretary S S Thiagarajan.

The agitators shouted slogans denouncing the Centre for its 'anti-people' policy and for not implementing the suggestion put forth by the Left parties to prevent the hike.

Expressing solidarity, vans, truck and lorry owners, besides autorickshaw owners struck work today as part of the nation-wide stir.

About 300 auto drivers, owing allegiance to CITU, were arrested at Tiruvottriyur in North Chennai for blocking traffic, when they staged the demonstration.

Lorry and Tanker owner Associations claimed that more than 1.40 lakh trailors, lorries and tankers were off the roads in the state.

More than 1000 tractor-trailers were queued up in the Chennai Port Trust, while more than 600 tankers were lined up near IOC and CPCL stations in North Chennai.

The All India Motor Transport Congress officials said more than 42 lakh lorries and vans in various parties of country participated in the strike.

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