RailEnquiry

The students’ protest over the Sri Lankan issue intensified in Karur with private college students joining their Government Arts College counterparts at Thanthonrimalai here and taking to the rail track to highlight their demands on Monday.Students from the Government Arts College, Thanthonrimalai, took out a rally from their college to Karur Junction. The rally meandered through Sunga Gate, Thirumanilayur, and Lighthouse Corner.There they were joined by others who claimed they were students from an engineering college and an arts college in the town.They all moved into Karur Junction and staged a rail roko agitation before the police posse took them into custody. In all, 369 students, including 179 girls were picked up by the police and taken away. Led by the Karur Dy. SP S.M. Elango, a strong contingent of police was present at the junction.The students raised slogans denouncing the Centre for its lack of strong response to the Lankan government in condemning the atrocities meted out to Sri Lankan Tamils.They also wanted the Government of India to sponsor its own resolution in the UNHCR meeting condemning the Sri Lankan government for its annihilation of Tamils and also demanded that India make efforts to bring “war criminal” Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaska to the book for his role in the killing of innocent Tamilians. All those arrested were later let off in the evening.

The students stir has been on for the fourth consecutive day with one or the other form of protests to highlight their demands and draw the attention of the public and the law-enforcement agencies.

VCK fast

Meanwhile, the fast being staged by members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi entered its third day over the same issue. The activists are observing the fast in front of the taluk office on Jawahar Bazar.