Weavers arrested for obstructing road

Puducherry, Sep 4(UNI) As many as 266 weavers, including 55 women were arrested when they resorted to a road blockade on the Maramalaiadigal saalai here today.

The agitation was to condemn Welfare Minister M Kandasamy for his reported announcement yesterday that polyster sarees and shirt bits would be distributed under the free garment scheme of the social welfare department by discontinuing the purchase of clothes from Pontex.

Raising slogans against the minister the weavers said any move in this direction would affect their job as they have already manufactured handloom clothes for distribution during Deepavali.

Traffic on the Maramalaiadigal saalai was affected for half-an-hour following the stir.

The arrested were later released.

UNI