Date:03/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/03/stories/2007110351510300.htm

Tamil Nadu

CPI(M) cadres court arrest

Tiruchi Bureau

Demand flood relief and supply of essential commodities

KARAIKAL: About 60 cadres belonging to the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by its district secretary Vincent, were arrested on Friday when they picketed near the new bus stand here asking the Puducherry Government to provide flood relief and supply of all essential commodities, including rice, sugar and kerosene, free of cost to the people of Karaikal region.

Pudukottai

Party cadres, who attempted to picket the government offices in Pudukottai and Perambalur towns to press their demand for amenities for the people belonging to the ‘Arunthathiar’ community, courted arrest.

In Pudukottai, 41 party workers courted arrest when they attempted to picket the Revenue Divisional Officer’s office. Raising slogans, they urged the State government to sanction loans to the people belonging to the ‘Arunthathiar’ community through the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation. They also wanted group houses to be constructed with all basic amenities in the area.

Party’s district executive member P. Shanmugam said the government should constitute an exclusive cobbler welfare board to protect the interests of the community, ensuring insurance coverage and other benefits.

Pudukottai town secretary T. N. Natarajan was among those courted arrest.

Perambalur

In Perambalur, 100 party volunteers, including 50 women, courted arrest when they attempted to picket the RDO office here. Those arrested included district secretary T. Murugesan, CITU district president Ganesan and farmers’ wing secretary Vaduganathan.