T Murugan member of the CPI's Tamil nadu state unit, V Perumal, Secretary of the party's local unit, K Murugan and C Sivakumar (CITU secretary and treasurer) and K Ramachandran (CITU deputy secretary were among 120 persons taken into custody from the spot.
The agitators, who held a demonstration earlier, parked their autorickshaws hapharadly and police diverted traffic. A wordy duel broke out between Murugan and a police officer after the latter started removing the autos to the roadside with the help of constables.
Murugan alleged that most dealers have been hoarding petrol for the last few days, leading to scarcity and said it was regrettable that the law enforcement machinery was keeping silent over this. The police, instead of taking action against petrol dealers, were taking CITU workers into custody, he said.
"Our fight will continue," he said. He also said the Centre should take into consideration the suggestions that Left parties had given to avoid hike in prices of petrol and diesel. Meanwhile, supply of petroleum products resumed in most bunks today, though some dealers said that sale of petrol and diesel depended on the quantum of oil available with them.