The Periyar University has placed under suspension activist M. Valarmathi, a final year MA (Journalism and Mass Communication) student, whose detention under the Goondas Act for distributing “objectionable” pamphlets drew criticism from opposition leaders and human rights activists.
University sources said that M. Manivannan, Registrar of the University, issued orders suspending her recently.
The City Police arrested Valarmathi on July 12 accusing her of distributing pamphlets containing slogans in support of the agitation against the hydrocarbon exploration project in Neduvasal. Stating that cases of inciting students and general public against the government were pending against her in different courts in the State, Sanjay Kumar, City Police Commissioner, ordered her detention under the Goondas Act recently.
The City Police intimated the detention of Valarmathi under the Goondas Act to Periyar University. On receipt of the police communiqué, the University authorities held discussion on the issue. As she has been charged with instigating students and has been detained under the Goondas Act, the University decided to suspend her, official sources told The Hindu .
Ms. Valarmathi was arrested earlier too and cases were pending against her in different courts. But that did not attract any action from the University. As she has been booked under the Goondas Act now, the University decided to suspend her, the sources added.
