Fasts and protests by students condemning crimes against Tamils in Sri Lanka and demanding that the Centre should support the United States resolution against the island nation at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) continued in various places in the district on Friday.
The indefinite fast by a group of Government Law College students here entered the fourth day on Friday with four of them admitted to the Government Hospital in the city. The four were shifted to the hospital in the afternoon after they fainted at the fasting venue inside their college campus.
The fast by students of Bharathidasan University on the main campus near here entered the second day with around 350 of them taking part, according to police sources. Similarly, a section students of Government Arts College, Thuvakudi, and those of MIET College at Gundur also observed fast on the Sri Lankan issue.
Lawyers in Manapparai took out a procession in that town and later observed fast demanding that the Centre support the US resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC.
In separate incidents, members of ‘Makkal Kalai Ilakiya Kazhagam’ were arrested in the city for indulging in picketing and burning an effigy of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Over 30 members were held after they indulged in picketing in front of the Head Post Office. A few members of the same outfit were arrested after they set fire to the effigy of Mr. Rajapaksa in front of the district unit of the Congress party near the Main Guard gate.
A good number of students of the E.V.R. College took out a procession from their institution to the Collectorate demanding action against Mr. Rajapaksa and seeking a referendum. Midway, they sat on the road for a while near the 117 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army) establishment raising slogans.
Upon reaching the Collectorate, the students burnt an effigy of Mr. Rajapaksa and later met the District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan.
In Thanjavur, students of Periyar Maniammai University continued their fast for the second day on Friday.
On Thursday, four students of Government Arts College, Kumbakonam, fainted when they undertook fast on Sri Lanka issue.
They were shifted to government hospital, Kumbakonam.
In Pudukottai, the students of the Rajah’s College staged a demonstration in front of the district Congress party office and burnt the effigies of Mahinda Rajapaksa and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. They also raised slogans against Manmohan Singh government. Later they marched towards the head post office and staged a sit-in demonstration.
They attempted to gatecrash the post-office, but police foiled their attempt. Later they returned to the college and dispersed peacefully. Meanwhile, 13 students of the college, who were on indefinite strike for the last four days, withdrew the fast on Friday evening.
