Over 80 people attached to various political parties and Tamil groups on Thursday protested against the Andhra Pradesh government for the encounter killing of 20 Tamil Nadu woodcutters.
The protesters were detained by the police when they attempted to march towards the Secretariat.
The agitation to pay homage to the dead and protest against the N. Chandrababu Naidu government began around 10.30 a.m. near the Periyar Statue on Anna Salai.
Leaders, including Kolathur Mani of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam, gradually assembled with the cadre. Later, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi, Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist) and five more outfits joined in.
Heavy police presence was seen on the arterial road and on Swami Sivananda Salai as the protesters raised slogans.
The police arrested and lodged them in a community hall in Chintadripet.
They were released in the evening.
