Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 24, 2006
Online edition of India's National Newspaper Thursday, Aug 24, 2006 |
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Tamil Nadu
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Chennai
Staff Reporter
COMMUTER WOES: Several commuters were forced to walk long distances for their destinations as law students staged a road block agitation at Parrys Corner area on Wednesday. — PHOTO: S.R. RAGHUNATHAN
CHENNAI: The city police on Wednesday arrested about 80 students of a private law college from Salem who staged a protest in George Town demanding fee reduction. The protest sparked a major traffic hold-up for most of the day, beginning with a stand off in the morning and going on well up to 8 p.m. Speaking to reporters, Students Federation of India (SFI) state secretary G. Selva said the students wanted the State Government direct the college management to adhere to the reservation norms during admissions. They also wanted the college to collect the fee fixed by the Government for students selected under the Government quota. Many students complained that the management demanded higher fees from students admitted under the management quota. When they attempted to stage a demonstration they were arrested, but released in the evening after an order from the Madras High Court. However, the students continued the stir in Kuralagam after their release, pressing their demands. When the stir continued till 8 p.m., State Law Minister I Periasamy intervened and assured the students that their demands would be looked into within a fortnight. The State Government would protect the student community, he said. However, the students continued their protest demanding a quicker solution. The strike not only paralysed normal traffic in the High Court area, but also caused hardships to commuters. Though the students were advised to remain calm and not to resort to a stir that would hamper normal life , they went ahead with the agitation. This showed the concern they have for the public, a senior police officer said. Drivers and commuters of public transport said the entire area of George Town and Park Town was paralysed and there were major traffic jams in the entire area for hours together.
Late development
As the agitation went late into the night, the Police Commissioner in charge, K.V.S Murthy, told newsperson at Kuralagam that the High Court had clearly said, the students should not indulge in any lawless activity. Such an agitation was contempt of court. In the morning, when students squatted on the road, the police, arrested a few of them under Sec.151 of Cr.P.C as a preventive measure and released them in the evening. The police would continue to persuade them to withdraw the strike and Mr. Murthy replied to a query saying that there might be some instigation from some quarter. Around 11 p.m. the Dalit Panthers leader, Thol Thirumavalavan joined the agitation and squatted along with them, even as a large posse of policemen kept vigil in the sidelines.
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