TNTF resort to strike for Lankan Tamils

Chennai, Oct 31: Hundreds of shopkeepers downed their shutters across Tamil Nadu this morning in response to a one day strike called by the Tamil Nadu Traders Federation(TNTF) to condemn the attack on Sri Lankan Tamils.

Police sources quoting initial reports said several shops were closed, even as Federation President T Vellaiyan was arrested in Chennai city.

Mr Vellaiyan was arrested on charges of forcibly asking the shop owners to down the shutters in Vepery area.

Thousands of small time tea shops, ubiquitous to the Chennai city, remained closed and several major showrooms, including leading textile shops also joined the stir.

Several hotels were also closed following the strike.

All the vegetable and fruit vendors in the Koyambedu market also expressed their solidarity to the suffering Tamils by joining the agitation, which has received wide support from various trade union organisations and political parties like the Marumalarchi DMK(MDMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi(VCK) and Tamil Nationalist Movement(TNM) leader Pazha Nedumaran.

UNI