Day One: 12 MTC buses stoned in city

The Chennai city police have arrested twelve trade union activists, for attempting to besiege the transport headquarters on Pallavan Salai. Apart for this no major violence was reported in the city as part of the strike organised by transport unions. 

Earlier, police had to rush to the rescue of bus crews as the striking union members pelted stones at MTC buses in areas like Anna Nagar, Ambattur, Washermanpet, Madhavaram and Chrompet. They have also registered cases against the persons who had pelted stones at the buses damaging their windshields. 

As many as 12 trade union members, who tried to besiege the transport headquarters on Pallavan Salai were arrested. Police removed them from the spot and kept them in custody at a marriage hall. They were released later in the day.

Police are yet to pick up any trade union members, who were charged with damaging the windshields of MTC buses. “We have registered cases but no arrests have been made so far,” a senior police official told DTNext.

The city police had deployed about 15,000 personnel at strategic locations to prevent any untoward incidents. Fire tenders and ambulances were also kept ready near bus depots as part of contingency plans. 

City police provided security to buses operated by the employees belonging to the ruling party union. All bus stands and depots were brought under a security blanket. 

Officials said that no attempts to block buses from major bus-stands were initiated by the striking unions.