Thanjavur: Farmers and agriculture workers, affiliated to the CPI and CPI (M), blocked roads and burnt the effigy of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in the old bus stand area in Thanjavur today protesting against Karnataka’s refusal to release Cauvery water due for Tamil Nadu as per the final award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

Led by Tamil Nadu Farmers Association state general secretary Durai Manickam, the agitators raised slogans against Siddaramaiah and burnt his effigy.

A section of agitators attempted to carry Siddaramaiah’s effigy in a bier, triggering tension in the area.

However, police swung into action and confiscated the effigy. At least, 106 persons were arrested in this connection.

The road block was organised as part of the bandh jointly called by Tamil Nadu Farmers Association and All India Agriculture Workers Association in the six delta districts including Thanjavur protesting Karnataka government for its refusal to release water due for Tamil Nadu and urging the Central and State governments to take steps to get water from Karnataka as per the final verdict of the Cauvery Tribunal.

They resorted to road blockade in 62 places across the district and a total of 2,876 people were arrested in this connection. Cadres of DMK and MDMK also took part.

However, as the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai had announced only ‘moral support’ to the bandh, all the shops and commercial establishments functioned normally. Few shops remained closed in some remote hamlets in Orathanadu, Thiruvaiyaru and Budalur blocks.