MADURAI: Tension prevailed at Madurai Railway Junction on Wednesday morning as members of various trade unions attempted to block train movement to put forth their 12-point charter of demands.
A large number of police personnel deployed at the entrance of the railway station prevented the trade unionists from entering the premises.
According to police, an estimated 700 members from various trade unions took part in the protest. They were led by district secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist) R Vijayarajan. Around 400 of them were arrested and shifted to nearby marriage halls.
Similarly, around 150 people led by CITU leader Pon Krishnan attempted to enter the Thirupparankundram railway station on the city’s outskirts around the same time. Police personnel deployed there stopped them and arrested many of them. They would be released in the evening, police said.
Their demands included an assured pension not less than Rs 3,000 per month for the entire working population and a minimum wage of Rs 15, 000 per month with provisions of indexation.
