The indefinite fast of students of the Forest College, Mettupalayam, that began on Tuesday came to an end on Sunday morning though their demands were not met.
The students will, however, continue their protest and boycott classes. They have been protesting since January 27.
The students are demanding 100 per cent reservation for the post of Forest Ranger, from the existing 25 per cent and reservation for the post of Forester and Field Assistant – for which the written examination was conducted across the State, on Sunday. They sought cancellation of the exam if their demand was not met.
VC holds talks
Vice-Chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) K. Ramasamy spoke with the protesters, in the presence of Revenue Division Officer S. Madhuranthagi, Superintendent of Police of Coimbatore District Police M. Sudhakar and Tahsildar L. Krishnamoorthi.
Three rounds of talks were conducted with the students from 5.30 p.m. on Saturday to the early hours of Sunday.
After the talks on Saturday the students said that their sit-in protest at the institution premises would continue in a peaceful manner till all their demands were met.
Protesters said that 213 students took part in the fast and 68 of them – including 28 girls – fell ill and were taken to the Mettupalayam Government Hospital.
They said these students too took part in the hunger strike and the protest after they were discharged from the hospital.
One of the M.Sc. students said that 35 protesters were pursuing M.Sc. or Ph.D. and were eligible to take up the Tamilnadu Forest Uniformed Services Recruitment exam conducted on Sunday to fill 181 vacancies for the post of Forester or Field Assistant. “We applied for the position but did not take up the exam,” he said.
40 per cent absent
On Sunday there were many absentees for the examination for the post of Forester that was conducted in 19 centres in the city amid police protection.
Out of 5,819 candidates who had applied for these exams only 3,492 of them wrote them.
The students will, however, continue their protest and boycott classes
