PMK workers stage protests over Cauvery issue; one injured

Scores of PMK workers including party leader and Lok Sabha MP Anbumani Ramadoss were today arrested for trying to stage a rail blockade here over the Cauvery issue.

The party had earlier given a 'bandh' call today on the matter.

Ramadoss, farmers' leader PR Pandian and about 300 PMK workers were taken into custody for trying to stage a rail-roko at Egmore here urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), police said.

PMK founder S Ramadoss a protest at Ambattur, they added.

Meanwhile, a party worker suffered severe burn injuries from a suspected electrical shock when he climbed atop a rail engine at Tindivanam in Villupuram district while participating in the protest.

He was rushed to a government hospital.

Since April 1, Tamil Nadu has been witnessing protests by political parties, pro-Tamil outfits, student groups and voluntary organisations seeking setting up of the CMB.

On February 16, the Supreme Court had raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin.

The court had granted six weeks time to the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgement on the decades-old Cauvery dispute, which modified the CWDT award of 2007.

The six-week period ended on March 29.