Pollachi racket: After 2nd day stir college agrees to spare students of punishment

The students of Government Law College in Coimbatore staged a sit-in protest within their campus for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. They demanded that police cases filed against 167 students for joining the protest be revoked. They also sought action against the Coimbatore SP for revealing the victim’s identity, claiming that it prevented other women from coming forward to lodge complaints.

The police had charged the students under various IPC sections, including 143 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging duty).

The college management cancelled the exams and declared a holiday on Wednesday. Later in the day, the students announced that they would withdraw their protest after the college management assured them that it would take steps to cancel the FIR registered against the 167 students.

The college also promised that students, who participated in the protests, would not receive any punishment such as suspension.

In another protest, the Hindu Munnani members led by its state president Kadeswara C Subramaniam staged a demonstration at Thiruvalluvar Thidal in Pollachi, demanding capital punishment for the accused.

“The issue is being politicised by political parties and Naxal groups. Efforts should be taken to prevent the circulation of videos portraying the victims on social media. Also, maximum punishment should be given to the accused regardless of their affiliation to any political party,” Subramaniam told newspersons.

 Meanwhile, the CB-CID, which is investigating into the case, is in talks with legal experts on the possibility of booking the accused in fresh cases to take them into custody for further interrogation. According to rules, police can take custody of the accused only within 15 days of his/her arrest. 

However, with victims not coming forth to lodge complaints, the CB-CID police, who took over the investigation from the Coimbatore rural police, is in a quandary.