Coimbatore: Over 3,500 workers of various political parties, led by DMK, were arrested today for picketing attempts in different places in the districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur and Nilgiris, demanding immediate rollback of bus fare hike.

Refusing to accept the revised reduction in fares announced by the Government, the workers raised slogans, police said.

The agitation was held at eight places in the city and the district and attended by DMK legislator N Karthik, former minister Pongalur N Palanisamy and the district leaders of CPI, VCK, MDMK and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi.

As the workers attempted to squat in the middle of the road block traffic, police arrested over 1,000 persons.

Similarly, over 1,000 workers were arrested in nearby Tirupur and around 500 in Nilgiris districts.