CHENNAI (TIP): Senior DMK leader MK Stalin was taken into preventive custody on Friday after staging a rail roko at the Egmore Railway station in Chennai. Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi also courted arrest as the entire state witnessed a shutdown over the ongoing Cauvery water-sharing dispute and the violence against Tamils living in Karnataka.

The bandh, which will last from dawn to dusk, was called by all political parties and their affiliated trade organisations, barring the ruling AIADMK and its allies.

More than 12,000 policemen have been deployed across Chennai to maintain order. Police stated that no attempt to disrupt public peace or prevent the free movement of transportation would be tolerated.

The senior DMK leaders, who launched their protest rallies in Egmore station and on Anna Salai, are currently courting arrest.

MDMK leader Vaiko and his party cadre were arrested earlier in Tiruchy after attempting to stage a rail roko.

The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed both the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for failing to prevent violence over its order, and stated that its verdict had to be complied with. But the dispute has seen large-scale violence across Karnataka – especially in Bengaluru – where rampaging mobs have torched vehicles and damages property worth crores.