Chennai: Normal life remained mostly unaffected in Chennai and its suburbs despite the 6 AM to 6 PM strike announced by the farmers’ associations and the opposition parties in the Cauvery issue.

15,000 policemen were deployed to ensure that law and order was maintained in Chennai. Government buses plied as usual and the trains followed their normal schedule all over the city and its suburbs. Except a stone-throwing incident at a car showroom in Chennai, there were no reports of any violence. All the IT companies functioned as usual.

While some schools remained closedas a preventive measure, most educational institutions had a normal working day.

Several vegetable wholesalers and retailers kept their shutters down, but the malls in the city resumed business in the evening. A statement issued by the Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers Association said that the outlets run by the government-run Indian Oil remained open.

The opposition parties attempted rail and road roko protests at various parts of the city, but the attempts were thwarted by the police, who arrested the protesters. Among those who were arrested and detained were MK Stalin, who headed a rail roko in Egmore; MP Kanimozhi, who squatted on the road in Anna Salai; and VCK’s Thol Thirumavalavan, who led a rail roko in Basin Bridge.

Among the notable absentees was DMDK president Vijayakanth, who stayed away from the protests due to ill health. His wife, Premalatha, led the party’s protesters.