Date:06/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/06/stories/2009010650540300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Vivasayigal Sangam members block traffic seeking patta

Staff Reporter

Highlighting demands: Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam members staging a road roko in front of Tahsildar’s office, Harur, on Monday.

KRISHNAGIRI: As many as 1,504 members, including 317 women, of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam were arrested in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts on Monday when they resorted to road roko agitation demanding free house site patta and two-acre land.

In Krishnagiri district, the agitation was staged at Krishnagiri, Uthangarai, Sulagiri, Pochampalli, and Denkanikottai.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) State treasurer P. Shanmugam led the agitation in front of the Uthangarai Tahsildar Office along with D. Raveendran, State committee member.

Wordy duel

About 155 persons, including 70 women, were arrested. When Shanmugam wanted to meet the Tahsildhar, the Uthangarai Deputy Superintendent of Police (in charge) A.M. Mani entered into a wordy duel with him. Meanwhile, the Tahsildar arrived on the spot and defused the situation.

At Sulagiri, Vivasayigal Sangam district president C. Munisamy led the agitation. M. Dharma, district president, led the agitation at Pochampalli.

A total of 54 people were arrested there. At Denkanikottai, 103 people were arrested including 18 women. In Krishnagiri, taluk president R. Shankar led the agitation. A total of 14 people were arrested.

According to the police, a total of 464 people, including 229 women, were arrested in Dharmapuri district.

Harur MLA P. Dillibabu led the agitation in front of the Harur Tahsildar Office following which he was arrested along with his supporters. Road roko agitations were held in Dharmapuri, Pappireddypatti, Palacode and Pennagaram towns.

In Dharmapuri town, district president K.N. Malliah led the agitation. A total of 150 people, including 50 women, were arrested.