Violence breaks out in American College

STONES HURLED, VEHICLES DAMAGED

4 held after violence breaks out in American College

Express News Service 14 March 2011

It was mayhem at The American College here on Monday, as a group of students (most of them are rowdies brought from outside) unleashed unprecedented violence within the campus.

The agitating faculty members and one group of students had been on a hunger strike for the past few days and posters to this effect had been pasted in the city. Interestingly, another set of posters came up on Monday, in the name of ACSF announcing an eating
fast (unnum viradham) to counter the hunger fast (unnaviradham) on the premises of the college.

As the faculty and students on hunger fast were sitting silent on the campus, a bunch of students along with the recently appointed college staff started raising slogans against professors. As this went on for some time, a police team intervened asking them to maintain silence, but it fell on deaf ears.

Around 12.20 pm, the police team present on the campus left leaving and only two cops stayed there. Suddenly, a group of students started hurling stones at the faculty and the fasting students around 12.30 pm. The faculty and students ran helter skelter for protection and the campus witnessed violence with students tearing apart the shamiana erected for the fast and damaging two wheelers and cars that were in the parking lot.

By the time a police team, led by Deputy Commissioner Senthil Kumari rushed to the spot, the students who had indulged in the violence escaped and the cops were able to nab only four suspects.

Faculty members and students, who ran out of the campus, blocked traffic in Goripalayam, condemning the attack and demanded the arrest of principal in-charge Mohan. They also urged the government to deploy a high level committee to probe the matter. RDO Sukumar rushed to the spot and assessed the damage caused by the violence on the campus.

Police and revenue officials assured the students that stringent action would be taken against those who indulged in the violence and rowdy elements inside the campus would be arrested. Heated arguments were witnessed as the faculty accused the police department for failing to provide adequate protection to them. Since, the students were not ready to give up the road roko, around 120 students, including 12 girls, were taken into custody.

According to police, four students. Ramanathan. Deepan, Vigneswaran and Visu, who were held earlier have been booked under the Public Property Damage Act.The video-recording and other pictures would be analysed to find out other students involved in the violence. Both parties have filed complaints. Further investigation are on, the police said.