Plantation workers withdraw strike after govt assurance

Coimbatore, Feb 10 (PTI) Plantation workers in Valparaiin the district, who went on strike today following thekilling of three women workers yesterday by elephants,withdrew it after Tamil Nadu government annnouncedcompensation to the families of the deceased, police said.

Three women workers were trampled by a herd of elephantsyesterday when plucking tea leaves in an estate inPeriyakallar, about 100 km from here.

To protest the killings and also seeking protection fortheir lives from wild animals, about 10,000 workers andstudents of a local college, staged road blockade onValparai-Pollachi road, police said.

After vehicular traffic had been disrupted for more thanthree hours, the workers withdrew their agitation, followingreports that the Government would provide Rs two lakh each tothe families of the deceased and also a government job to amember of each family, police said.