DMK-sponsored bandh on Cauvery hits normal life in TN

Normal life was affected in Tamil Nadu with establishments, including shops and restaurants, downing their shutters in response to a day-long shutdown call given by Opposition DMK and its allies, even as leaders of the politicial parties were arrested for squatting on the roads.

However, the state government ensured that more than half of the total strength of the buses plied in Chennai, though same cannot be said about other districts, where majority of the vehicles remained off roads due to fear of violence.

Almost all shops, including textile and jewellery showrooms, eateries and other establishments, were closed across the state, though chemist shops and petrol stations functioned without any hindrance.

Closing of shops and traffic snarls caused by protests by the Opposition parties caused severe inconvenience to the people with several taking to Twitter to complain that even ambulances were stuck in the jams. Besides road roko and stopping buses, cadres of DMK, Congress and VCK held up several EMUs and express trains across Tamil Nadu.

March to Marina

In Chennai, DMK Working President M K Stalin led thousands of cadres on a protest on the arterial Anna Salai, but changed his plans at the last minute and marched towards the Marina Beach along with his supporters. DMK, Congress, VCK and MDMK cadres broke the barricades and fought with police personnel to make their way to the Marina Beach.

As the situation went out of control and Stalin, along with TNCC chief Su Thirunavukarasar and Thol Thirumavalan of the VCK, squatted on the roads, police removed them from the Beach Road and took them into their custody. More than 25,000 people were arrested across Tamil Nadu during the protests and were released in the evening.

Reports poured in from several parts of the state that state-owned buses were being attacked with stones and many returned to their depots. DMK and its allies called for the bandh to protest the Centre's delay in constituting the Cauvery Management Board despite a "clear directive" from the Supreme Court.