Several hundreds of government employees and teachers affiliated to JACTTO-GEO were arrested for staging road roko on the third day of their indefinite strike in Tiruchi and other districts in the Central region on Thursday.

Many elementary schools across the region remained shut as teachers abstained from work notwithstanding the direction of the Madras High Court to the teachers to give up their strike forthwith.

In Tiruchi city, over 2,000 teachers and government employees were arrested after they staged a road roko near the Collectorate. They were released in the evening.

The participation of elementary school teachers was substantial leading to the closure of the institutions for the third consecutive day, said K. Uduman Ali, a Tiruchi district coordinator of JACTTO-GEO.

About 40% to 50% of government employees continued with their strike in the district on day three, said J. Valavan Arasu, district secretary, Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association.

Elementary schools remained shut in Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts too as teachers working in those districts participated in the strike. The participation of teachers and government employees in the strike were more than 50 % and 60% respectively in Thanjavur district, said sources.

Around 125 JACTTO-GEO members were arrested in Thanjavur after they staged a road roko near the railway junction.

Over 200 JACTTO-GEO members were arrested in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts where the strike continued.