Normal life in Tamil Nadu was hit on Tuesday by a shutdown called by opposition parties to press for immediate resolution of the problems faced by the state’s drought-hit farmers.
The DMK’s working president MK Stalin was among those held as opposition parties held demonstrations in several parts of the state. Stalin was detained along with several party cadres in Tiruvarur.
While shops and hotels remain shut across Tamil Nadu, government buses continue to ply on roads. Central and state government offices, as well as those of public and private sector undertakings, remained open.
Police personnel have been deployed in large numbers at key locations across the state.