Title - TESO protesters removed while attempting to block roads, train

As many as 493 members of Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) were removed by the police when they attempted to block roads and train services during the dawn-to-dusk general strike called by the organisation on Tuesday.There was partial response to the strike, called by the DMK-backed TESO, as shops, trade establishments, transportation and other services remained unaffected and no untoward incident was reported in the district.Led by Salem district secretary in-charge S.R. Sivalingam, the cadre entered the Salem Railway Junction and raised slogans against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. They condemned the brutal killings of innocent Tamil people in the island nation and wanted Mr. Rajapaksa to be tried at the International Court of Justice for war crimes. They raised slogans that India should vote in favour of the U.S.-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva.They also went on a sit-in-protest and the city police, led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) A.G. Babu, removed 39 protesters.The city police also removed 77 protesters, while they tried to block the road near Ambedkar Statue, Ayodhiyapattinam, and at Pal Market. The rural police also removed 377 protesters when they attempted to block roads at 12 places, including Attur, Mecheri, Sankagiri, Thalaivasal, Mettur, Yethapur, Gengavalli, Kolathur and at Vazhapadi.

Supporting the same cause, about 2,200 students, including 800 women, of Government Arts College boycotted their classes and raised slogans against the Sri Lankan President.

Police personnel were posted across the district to prevent untoward incidents.

597 held in Namakkal

The police arrested 597 persons when they resorted to road roko in different places across the district on Tuesday in support of the strike. The police sources said that the arrested persons including 15 women blocked roads in 12 places including Namakkal, Rasipuram, Tiruchengode, Paramathi, Pallipalayam, Velur and Komarapalayam. They were lodged in marriage halls in the localities and were released later in the evening.

The strike did not affect normal life as more than 90 per cent of the shops remained open on Tuesday. Jewellery and textile outlets on Bazaar Street and Senthamangalam Road were closed till evening.

The Government and private buses plied as usual. Security was strengthened in the bus stands and transport depots.

The police sources said no untoward incidents were reported across the district.