Buses damaged as anti-KKNPP protests reach Chennai

The protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project on Tuesday spread to Chennai with members of various parties and outfits being arrested for staging road blockade in various parts of the city.

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder and Lok Sabha MP Thol Thirumavalavan and MDMK leader Mallai Sathya were among the scores of agitators who were arrested for staging road-blocks in different parts of the city, police said, adding smaller outfits like MMK also staged protest.

The protestors condemned Monday’s police firing in Tutircorin district where a fisherman was killed and opposed loading of uranium fuel at the nuclear plant in Tirunelveli district.

The anti-nuclear protests had taken a violent turn on Tuesday with protestors clashing with police, resulting in lathi-charge and firing of tear-gas shells by police at Idinthakarai in Tirunelveli district and firing at Tuticorin.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had appealed for calm and cooperation from people of Idinthakarai, assuring that the venture being implemented in collaboration with Russia was safe.

Meanwhile, protesters allegedly pelted stones at a government bus at Mount Road here, damaging window panes, police added.