Chennai cops stop students' protest against jallikattu violence at Madras University

CHENNAI: A day-long sit-in protest planned by 20 students on the premises of Madras University against the alleged atrocities on pro-jallikattu protesters and fishermen, was stopped by police after it went on for some time on Tuesday.

The demonstration was held for nearly two hours, a participant said.

The students started the protest at 10:30 am. They wanted to continue till the evening, but police intervention prevented them from doing so.

According to students, police stopped the protest citing a prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC in force.

“The protest lasted only for two hours. The police said section 144, which was implemented on Marina beach, was applicable on Madras University campus as well,” said S R Pearson, a protester.

The students continued arguing with the police for half an hour until the university Registrar convinced them that their demands will be forwarded to the Chief Minister. “We expected around 100 students to turn up for the protest, but only a very few came because of police presence,” he said.

“We cannot protest on our own campus. Police officials say the prohibitory order implies even on the campus,” said another student, requesting anonymity.

The demonstrators said students who took part in the pro-jallikattu protest and were arrested should be released. The government should provide compensation to them immediately. “Through this protest, we are also showing our support to fishermen and Dalits, who were attacked during the protest. The government should set up a  judicial committee to go into the atrocities by  police and suspend the Chennai Police Commissioner and the officials who were involved in this brutality,” the protesters said.

“We are neither anti-social nor anti-national,” said  a student. He said the Registrar, P David Jawahar, intervened and requested police to leave.