Train services to Kerala hit as agitators stage rail roko

Chennai, Aug 25 (UNI) Movement of trains to Kerala from the Tamil Nadu side was affected when members under the banner of Salem Railway Division Protection and Struggle Coordination Committee staged a rail roko agitation.

The continuous agitation, as announced by the all party committee on August 23, began this morning to ensure the formation of the Salem Railway Division, as scheduled on September 14.

A mass of people blocked Kerala-bound trains at Salem, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Pothanur and Irgur Railway stations.

Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister and Salem ''Strongman'' Veerapandi S Arumugham led the agitation in his home town in which more than 4000 people participated.

The agitators, including former Union Minister and Senior Congress leader K V Thangabalu and legislators from PMK, squatted on the railway track and blocked the Gorakhpur-Trivandrum Rapthisagar express.

Reports received here said similar agitations were held in areas bordering the two states.

A day after Mr Arumugham announced on August 22 that he would personally lead an agitation, the all-party meeting convened by coordination committee, decided to stage a continuous rail roko from today.

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