Many farmers' organisations and Opposition parties has taken part in a 48-hour rail blockade in various parts of the State, demanding the constitution of a Cauvery board on Monday.

Former DMK Minister K.N. Nehru courted arrest after attempting a blockade at the Srirangam Railway Station. Senior DMK leader Durai Murugan had been arrested after a rail blockade at the Katpadi junction.

Officials informed that there was no disruption of rail services. Over 2,000 farmers and cadres of various parties were arrested in the central region comprising eight districts.  Over 5,000 persons have been arrested in Chennai.

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

In Cuddalore, over 700 farmers and cadres of political parties tried to enter the railway station for staging a rail roko. Police had to resort to mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd. Nearly 300 persons were arrested, police said. In Erode district, several farmers and Opposition party workers who attempted to enter the Erode Railway Station were arrested by the police.

The Madurai City Police resorted to lathi charge to disperse a crowd belonging to various Opposition parties, when they insisted on staging a rail roko and attempted to enter the railway junction here. Around five persons suffered simple injuries in the lathi charge.

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By Prakriti Neogi