Tamil Nadu - Tirunelveli   

Autorickshaw drivers go on strike

Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI: As many as 253 autorickshaw drivers were arrested when they staged a demonstration in front of the BSNL General Manager's Office on South Bypass Road at Vannarpettai in Palayamkottai on Monday reportedly without permission in protest against "police harassment."

The drivers, who struck work, said that cases were registered against some of their friends, when they took "more number" of school children in their vehicles on Friday last. The police should allow them to take any number of children they could, they demanded.

When the drivers, all affiliated to various trade unions and political parties, except the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, struck work on Monday and staged a demonstration without obtaining permission from the police, they were arrested.

While auto drivers of AIADMK could be seen operating their vehicles with their party flags, others were off the road.

Police sources said the auto drivers had been asked not to take more than five children during their `school trips,' as heavily crowded autorickshaws were vulnerable to fatal accidents.

"We, in the best interest of the children going to school in the autorickshaws and their parents, have imposed certain restrictions, which should not be diluted at any cost. If something untoward happens, the people, who support the protesting autorickshaw drivers, would certainly put the blame on us. Hence, no auto driver will be allowed to take more than five children in their vehicle in future," a top police official here clarified.

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