Thousands of protesting AIADMK workers arrested

Chennai, June 7 (UNI) Police arrested more than 30,000 workers of the main opposition AIADMK when they staged a protest demonstration to condemn the alleged derogatory remarks made by Chief Minister M Karunanidhi against party general secretary J Jayalalithaa.

Police sources said the arrests were made as the AIADMK partymen burnt the effigies of Mr Karunanidhi and copies of Tamil daily and DMK party Organ ''Murasoli''.

They also staged 'road roko' agitations in various parts of the state.

In Chennai, the arterial Anna Salai became the first target of the AIADMK protestors when 1000 workers attempted to block traffic.

However, they were taken into custody .

In north Chennai, the protest was led by AIADMK legislator and north Chennai district secretary P K Sekar Babu, party Presidum Chairmam E Madusudanan and organisation secretary Ms Sulochana Sampath.

At the 'Kuralagam' junction on the beach road, the AIADMK workers shouted slogans against Mr Karunanidhi. While some burnt the copies of 'Murasoli', Mr Sekarbabu and others tried to burn the effigy of Mr Karunanidhi. They were arrested immediately.

UNI