THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES ...

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THE HINDU

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Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083059740300.htm
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Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Tension in college leads to indefinite closure


Special Correspondent

Students, faculty members against appointment of new Principal


MADURAI: The issue of governing the American College here took a violent turn on Friday with a section of students and teachers protesting the ‘appointment’ of a new Principal and entry of police in the campus. The unrest led to an indefinite closure of the institution.

A large posse of policemen was posted outside the college in the evening as news of the visit of the Church of South India Bishop Christopher Asir reached the campus. An uneasy calm prevailed inside as students and lecturers assembled in front of the main building to oppose the entry of the Bishop and his associates.

Following an interim order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court passed on Thursday restraining the Principal T. Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar from interfering in the day-to-day affairs, the Bishop had announced the appointment of George Selvakumar as Principal.

At 4.15 p.m., when the Bishop arrived, tension mounted as students squatted in front of the main gate. They shouted slogans urging him to go back. However, the Bishop marched inside the premises, accompanied by some governing council members and others.

Stones hurled


At one stage, the situation appeared to be a “free for all” when some hurled stones at a few vehicles parked on the campus and at the police. Even as the police used force to chase away the students from the main building, the Bishop and others were guided to the Bursar’s room, which was broken open.

Talking to reporters, Rev. Asir accused the Principal Chinnaraj Joseph Jaikumar of instigating the students to create unrest on the campus. “We are obeying the court order and have not taken any thing into our hands.” He appealed to the students and faculty members to cooperate in restoring normality.

The new Principal George Selvakumar lauded the Bishop for preserving the prestige of the American College and announced that the college would be indefinitely closed from Friday.

Governing council member John Mahendran, who was injured in stone pelting, said that the college would soon function as usual.

Students injured


Many students, who suffered injuries, were in no mood to leave. They demanded justice and wanted the police to leave the campus. Girl students and faculty members staged a sit-in protest and shouted slogans against the Bishop and others.

Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Prabhakar said that Nagaraj of Armed Reserve Police, who was injured in stone pelting, was rushed to the hospital.

Attempts to persuade the faculty members to disperse by the Commissioner of Police K. Nandabalan failed. Even as he said “I don’t want a battle field inside the campus” the students remained firm on their stand and urged the Bishop to leave the premises. The students and faculty members dispersed late in the night.

Vehicular traffic was diverted from the area since evening as tension prevailed.








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