The anger and frustration against the bus fare hike showed no signs of ebbing on Wednesday, as students and residents continued their agitation across many parts of the State for the third day in succession.
In Chennai, a group of law students were picked up by the Chintadripet Police when they tried to block the road near Periyar statue on Anna Salai while protesting against the bus fare hike.
The students, under the banner of Puratchigara Ilaignar Kazhagam, were bundled into a waiting police van on Anna Salai after they tried to organise a road roko leading to traffic congestion for a few minutes.
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Students condemning the hike organised protests in Perambalur, Pudukottai, Tiruchi, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. About 500 students of Government Arts College, Veppanthattai in Perambalur district, staged a demonstration against the price hike. Likewise, students of the H.H. The Rajah’s College in Pudukottai staged a dharna in front of their institution for the second consecutive day.
In Tiruchi, students of Urumu Dhanalakshmi College staged a protest outside the campus by raising slogans against the State government.
Similar demonstrations were conducted by students of Government Arts College, Tiruverumbur and the Government Arts College in Musiri.
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In Thanjavur district, the police resorted to a mild lathi charge after a large group of students belonging to the Government College for Women and a private college tried to block the road in Kumbakonam, leading to traffic jams.
Southern districts
In southern districts such as Madurai, Dindigul and Theni too students staged protest. In Madurai city, students of MKU College staged a demonstration along the Alagarkoil Road in Tallakulam.
Students raised slogans against the State government in Dindigul and Theni districts and demanded that the government withdraw the hike in public interest. Students of VOC College in Thoothukudi boycotted their classes to protest against the hike.
Government employees belonging to Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association organised a protest in Virudhunagar.
In the western parts of the State, college students were joined by cadres of parties such as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the BJP and the Congress.
In Krishnagiri district, a group of students tore the bus passes distributed to them. Tension prevailed in Coimbatore leading to minor scuffles between the protesters and police officials after volunteers belonging to the Students’ Federation of India carried out a protest. Similar students protests were held in Gobichettipalayam and Namakkal.