Farmers stage protest over water release; held

More than 3,000 farmers were arrested when they staged a 'road roko' agitation at a village in the district, protesting non-release of water in the Kalingarayan Canal for irrigation.
The protesters, members of Kalingarayan Canal Irrigational Farmers Association, blocked the road for nearly two hours at Vengamedu village, bordering Erode and Karur districts, police said.
The farmers said due to non-availability of water, standing turmeric crop was withering in many places especially in Kodumudi area in Erode district. Unable to bear the loss of the crop, two farmers had allegedly committed suicide.
In this backdrop, they had taken up the issue with the Erode District Collector three days ago and he assured them that water would released in the canal, the protesters said.

However, as water had not been released, they resorted to the road roko.
Police said they arrested the protesters, who would be let off later today.