TN bandh on quota issue total, peaceful

Chennai, Mar 31 (UNI) The dawn-to-dusk bandh called by the ruling DMK-led DPA in Tamil Nadu on the quota issue was total and passed off peacefully.

DMK President and Tamil Nadiu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, described the bandh, called to protest against the Supreme Court order staying the law providing 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in higher educational institutions. as a total success and thanked the people of the state for supporting it.

There were no untoward incidents, barring detention of an empty goods train at Veerakkalpudur village in Salem, attack on six workers of Koodankulam atomic power plant and stoning of a medical shop in Chennai city, reports received here said.

Police quoting reports from other parts of the state said the bandh was total and passed off peacefully.

The 12-hour bandh, which began at 0600 hrs ended at 1800 hrs, brought the normal life to a grinding halt with trains bus and air services also being affected.

As the government had declared a holiday today under the Neogtiable Instruments Act, shopkeepers downed their shutters, schools, colleges, theatres, liquor shops, business, commercial and industrial establishments and banks remained closed.

Film shootings was also suspended during the bandh.

Bus and train services were disrupted as the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and inter-state buses were off the roads. Southern Railway had also cancelled and rescheduled several trains.

Air services were also hit though international flights were operated as scheduled. About 20 flights operated by Indian Airlines and Paramount Airways were cancelled, while ten Indian flights were rescheduled due to the bandh.

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