REFUGEE

Chennai, Nov 9 Tamil Nadu police today foiled a bid by members of a CPI(M) affiliated farmers' body to "forcibly enter" land allegedly encroached by Karnataka Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, arresting a number of agitators at Tiruvallur near Kaverirajapuram, the native village of the judge.

Police said about 300 protesters were taken into custody.

According to B Tulsi Narayanan, District Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha, spearheading the agitation besides Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, scores of protesters were stopped at Tiruvallur while proceeding towards Kaverirajapuram, where Justice Dinakaran has allegedly encroached land, a controversy that has affected his elevation to the Supreme Court.

"Since we were stopped at Tiruvallur, we staged a road blockade there itself, after which we were arrested and lodged in two marriage halls," he said, adding members owing allegiance to the two farmers' bodies, besides others, were arrested.