Chennai: Cauvery protest in the state turned into an anti-IPL protest as a slew of Tamil outfits and parties staged agitations on the arterial roads of Chennai demanding Cauvery Management Board and shifting of IPL venue from Chennai, on Tuesday evening.
Joining the pro-Tamil organisations, film directors Bharathiraja, Gowthaman, Vetrimaran and lyricist Vairamuthu also conducted road Roko on Wallajah Road, where the M.A. Chidambaram cricket stadium situated. The Cauvery protesters have been voicing against the conduct of IPL matches in Chennai alleging that it would dilute the ongoing Cauvery protest in the state.
Hundreds of activists belonging to Tamil outfits like Thamizhaga Vazhurimai Katchi, Naam Tamizhar and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), SDPI and others, staged a road blockade at the arterial Anna Salai and TTK Salai, affecting traffic movement, police said.
Anna Salai and Wallajah Road were worst hit in spite of hundreds of police personnel deployed anticipating a protest. Although the police had restricted vehicle movement on roads surrounding the stadium, the protest caused traffic snarls in Anna Salai and Kamarajar Salai among other major roads.
Meanwhile, the players of Chennai Super Kings and Kolkatta Knight Riders were brought to the stadium amidst tight police security. "The Union Home Ministry has directed us to provide full security to the players and prevent untoward incidents," a police official said.
The reports also suggested sporadic clashes between the police and agitators.
The police also used force and lathi-charged the protesters to disperse the crowd. It is to be noted that the entire furore happened on Tuesday evening amidst tight security arrangements. With situation going out of hand, the police had arrested hundreds of protesters including MLAs Tamimun Ansari, Karunas, Thaniyarasu, film directors Bharathiraja, Gowthaman, Vetrimaran and others.
According to the police sources, cases would be slapped against 30 protesters while others would be released after a short detention.
Anticipating a protest, the police had brought the cricket stadium under tight security cover with 4000 police personnel guarding the venue. Apart from state police, Commandos and personnel of Rapid Action Force were also deployed.
