Protests erupted across the city on Tuesday over the death of S. Anitha, a medical aspirant from Ariyalur district who committed suicide on Friday. For the past few days, there have been agitations across the State, as anger over the 17-year-old’s death has intensified.
Students from several city colleges staged protests demanding the removal of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), and reinstatement of admission process based on 12th standard marks. They also blamed the State and Central governments for Anitha’s death.
Over 200 students from Loyola College took to the streets raising slogans with placards. Actor Rohini and director Vetrimaran were among those who joined the Loyola students expressing solidarity with the cause.
Other city colleges too staged protests. Raghul.M.K., a third year chemistry student from Guru Nanak College, Velachery, who was part of a protest, said: “We want NEET to be banned from Tamil Nadu and we seek justice for Anitha.”
As many as 15 postgraduate students staged a sit-in on the campus of the University of Madras through the day on Tuesday.
Candle-light vigil
Students of Madras Medical College and Government Medical College, Omandurar, joined the State-wide protests. A candle-light homage and march, held for over two hours, was conducted on the MMC campus in the evening, with over 100 students participating, said one of the protesters. “We are demanding the removal of NEET,” he said. Medical students have protested against the entrance test several times this year. “We wanted to raise awareness among the general public about the issues surrounding NEET,” the protester said.
Students of a private engineering college in Selaiyur and an Arts and Science College in Gowrivakkam formed a human chain urging the government to abolish the NEET, which they said would serve as the best tribute to Anitha. Protesters attempted to stage a road-roko, which was thwarted in both places as police pickets were posted much in advance.
Slogans raised
Students shouted slogans against State and Union governments “for cheating” the students of Tamil Nadu. They wanted Tamil Nadu to be allowed to admit students to MBBS/BDS courses based on Class XII scores of aspirants. Students were pacified by senior police officials and after much deliberation, they dispersed from the scene.
According to police, the protests were held in 36 places in the city, and 183 protesters from seven places were detained, and later released.
Over 4,000 people participated in the protest and held candle light vigil.
