Over 100 Dalit students from Anbil Nagar near Elayirampannai abstained from schools on Friday protesting against, what they said, "partial action" by the district police in a clash between two groups.
The police said that over 500 Dalits of the village squatted in front of a community hall demanding the immediate release of those arrested. The protest was led by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi functionary, Sathuragiri.
Two cases were registered on September 1 and 2, lodged by people belonging to opposite groups, after a stone-pelting incident following a quarrel among students in sharing seats in a bus.
The police arrested Rajapandi and Gobi on the Dalit's side while no arrest was made on the opposite side. The duo, who was admitted in the Government hospital, was discharged before their arrest on attempt-to-murder charge, the police said.
However, no arrest was made on the case registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against six others of the opposite group.
Among the protestors were over 150 students of the village. The students, enrolled in four different schools in the village and in the vicinity, stayed away from the classes.
Revenue and police officials held talks with the protestors. However, they continued with their protest till afternoon.
