Tamil Nadu: After the HRD ministry decision to de-recognize deemed universities, instances of protest by the students are being reported in state of Tamil Nadu (TN). As per sources, a day after violence broke out on campuses of two deemed universities in Chennai , unrest spread to Thanjavur on Wednesday i.e. January 20, 2010, with students of Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology University (Prist University) going on rampage.
Prist and Periyar Maniammai universities, both in Thanjavur, are among the 44 enlisted institutions, set to lose their deemed university status. Meanwhile, the college authorities had organized a meeting with the students to assure them that their studies would not be affected. The students, however, walked out of the meeting and gathered in front of the building. In an attempt to prevent them from walking out of the campus, the authorities reportedly shut the main door of the college.
As per sources, aggrieved students have pelted stones at the college building at Vallam, near Thanjavur. Further, they broke furniture and destroyed the booth for security personnel at the entrance of the college. Even as the protest was on, college registrar K V Balasubramanian announced that the institute would be closed indefinitely. Soon after the incident, hostel inmates were asked to vacate their rooms. However, in Chennai, no violence was reported, but students continued to protest against derecognizing institute’s deemed status.
