No let up in protest against NEET

In Ponneri, students of NGG Government College staged a rail roko, bringing the EMU services between Ponneri and Chennai Central to a halt, for over an hour. They raised slogans against the central government for introducing NEET, thereby curbing the chances of students with limited resources to pursue medicine. Later, police held talks with students, after which the rail services resumed. Likewise, in Korukkupet, members of a student’s outfit, including women, blocked an EMU bound for Gummidipoondi and were detained by the police.

In Potheri, students of Valliammai Engineering College and SRM University held a human chain to condole the death of Anitha. They also raised slogans seeking justice for her and against NEET. The protest lasted for two hours with police permission. On East Coast Road, many youngsters staged protests. Police arrested 168 people in the city, for trying to lay siege to government buildings in six places. Peaceful demonstrations were held at 23 places with over 1,2oo protesters, said police.

Meanwhile, the strength of patrol teams on the Marina has been tripled from 15 to 45. Two teams have been monitoring for suspicious gathering of people on the Marina Beach, from Anna Square to the Lighthouse, round-the-clock, in shifts. “Usually, the patrol teams concentrate on Vivekanandar Illam, but now two more teams have been posted, one each at Tiruvalluvar and Gandhi statues. The traffic flow was smooth on Monday and there were restrictions for buses,” said an official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Delta districts simmer: The Central districts, on Monday, witnessed at least 100 protests against NEET and demanded justice for Anitha. The protest saw the coming together of students, political parties, workers and ordinary people at Gandhi market, where Anitha’s father has been working as a load man. While advocates boycotted courts in a few districts, in a few places the effigy of Puthiya Tamaliagam party president Dr Krishnasamy, was burnt for his comments on NEET.

The students of St Philomena HSS, Kuzhumur where Anitha had studied until Class 10, raised slogans against NEET and demanded justice. Her teachers recalled that Anitha was a bright and hard-working student and demanded justice for her. Students from Government College, Ariyalur, taook out a rally and staged a demonstration at Ariyalur bus stand. Meanwhile, a group of college students from various institutions staged a protest at Kuzhumur, Anitha’s home town.

Similarly, in Thanjavur the students of Government Rajah Serfoji Government Arts College staged a sit- in protest and raised slogans against the central and state governments. They demanded the scrapping of NEET for medical admission. Even as the students were protesting, a section of them tried to mount a road block, but was prevented by the police. Later, the students boycotted classes.

Similarly, students of Kunthavai Naacchiaar Government College for Women staged a protest in front of the college on the same issues. The members of SFI and the Radical Students and Youth Federation (RSYF) led the protest. Here too, the students boycotted classes. In Kumbakonam, the students of Government Arts College (Autonomous), boycotted the classes and staged a protest. They also took out a rally and raised slogans against the Union and State governments. Maruda Sangathamizhan, the Coordinator of all school, college struggle committee led the protest.

Meanwhile, advocates associated with the Tiruchirappalli Bar Association staged a demonstration near the Tiruchy district court. In the meantime, a section of students burnt the effigy of Puthiya Tamilagam founder president Dr Krishnasamy at Jayankondam ffor his comments in support of NEET. Similar protests were held at Mayiaduthurai, Thanjavur and Tiruchy.