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Cauvery Protest: Over 2,500 Arrested Across Tamil Nadu During 'Rail Roko' Protests

A farmers' federation had called for the 2-day rail blockade, urging the Centre to immediately constitute the Cauvery Management Board.

CHENNAI -- Opposition parties including the DMK today joined a state-wide rail blockade protest announced by a farmer's federation over the Cauvery issue, urging the Centre to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

DMK Treasurer and Opposition Leader in Tamil Nadu Assembly, MK Stalin was among those who participated in the protests held in different parts of the state including Chennai and the Cauvery delta districts.

Over 2,500 workers of various political parties and farmers have been arrested at different railway stations across Tamil Nadu.

Stalin led a procession at Perambur here even as scores of political workers belonging to DMK, the Left parties and MDMK among others staged a rail roko at Thanjavur and Cuddalore, and were detained.

A farmers' federation had called for the two-day rail blockade starting today, urging the Centre to immediately constitute the CMB.

The protests come days after a high-level technical team, set up by the Supreme Court, completed its inspection of Cauvery basin region in Tamil Nadu to assess the situation in the state.

The team, which also inspected the Cauvery basin in Karnataka, is set to submit its report in the apex court today.

The apex court had set up the team while hearing a petition by Tamil Nadu government seeking release of Cauvery water by Karnataka.

Meanwhile, more than 2,500 workers of various political parties and farmers were arrested at different railway stations in Coimbatore, Tirupur and Nilgiris districts, while attempting to stage rail roko in protest against the Centre for refusing to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, as directed by the Supreme Court.

Over 600 workers, belonging to MDMK, CPI, CPIM, VCK, Thanthai Periyar Dravida Kazhakam and some other organisations assembled near city railway station.

AFP/Getty Images

As they were proceeding to the station, police prevented them, leading to push and pull, they said. However, all the workers were arrested, police said.

More arrests were made at Pollachi, Mettupalayam and Sulur Railway Stations in Coimbatore district.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.