Over 100 activists of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) were arrested when they besieged the main branch of the State Bank of India here today, protesting against the Central government for causing inconvenience to the public in demonetising the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes.

Led by J Lakshmanan, State Secretary of AITUC, the activists raised slogans condemning the Central government for suddenly demonetising the widely circulated currency notes without making alternative arrangements, thus causing much hardship to the general public, particularly to the working class belonging to the unorganised sector and middle class.

The agitators also urged the Central government to immediately provide adequate quantity of new currency notes to the banks.

The activists squatted on the road and besieged the bank located on the busy Rajah Mirasdar Government Hospital Road, pressing their demands. Among others, District President V Sevaiya, District Secretary R Thillaivanam, District Deputy Secretary Durai Mathivanan and District Treasurer D Govindarajan took part in the agitation. Following this, police arrested 102 activists, including 19 women.