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February 5, 2000
NEWSLINKS
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Rumbles, yes, but no eruption yet
A Ganesh Nadar in Coimbatore The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, on the outskirts of Coimbatore, has a huge, lush campus. The auto driver said that it was quite a distance from the main gate to the hostel and would cost more. But we had problems even getting to the gate. Half a kilometre from it, the police had put up a barrier and were allowing traffic through slowly. Police personnel of every hue blocked the university gate. And that included the traffic police and the Rapid Action Force. They had besides them a massive vehicle with a gargantuan water cannon mounted on it. The cannon had been designed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation -- that was mentioned on the truck. Sensing trouble perhaps, the university management has sent off the students and put academics on the backburner awhile. So day scholars were not allowed inside and policewomen were arguing with agitated girls at the gate. The hostel students were inside. One boy called out to the girls outside, "Please go home. I will speak to you later. The girl became angry." "I want to be with the other students," she said, tears of frustration in her eyes. There were about 15 girls just outside the gate. The policewomen formed a cordon around them and guided them to the bus stop and then stood their ground. Four hostellers who had managed to come out gave us two conflicting stories: One said they'd come out because there was no food in the hostel; the other said they had come out to buy the employment news to apply for a job before the last date -- February 14. The policemen did not allow them back inside. The management also turned down their request to return. One university official told them, "You've been cheating us for the last four days. Stay out." A silent morcha of young girls slowly moved towards the gate. The police readjusted their riot gear though the girls didn't look very tough. The procession stopped when the hostellers talked to them. It wavered uncertainly, and then broke up. The students outside refused to talk to the press, saying we'd have to speak to their leader. Head constable Davidson, who speaks fluent English, told the college students, "What the hell do you want here. Only agri students are allowed here. Get lost or I'll put you inside as remand prisoners. You want to spend one month in jail?" Harsh, but effective. The boys left grumbling. Perhaps they'd be back later but they were quelled for the present. Davidson turned a baleful eye on the other students. "You are agri student. So you can manage to pass your time with mud and soil. This isn't the case with law and arts students. I know. I was a history student myself. How long can they sit with books? They are bored and so need to agitate. They are itching for violence. They too want to burn buses. Your name will get spoilt." One student spoke up for the absent law and arts students: "They are here to pledge us support." So Davidson took a more conciliatory approach. "Even I support you. We're trying to catch the culprits. How can we do our jobs when so many police personnel are wasted here, trying to keep you off the roads?" Another inspector -- his name tag read Dheendayalan -- spoke up, an ingratiating smile that belied his words: "If you are peaceful than we too will be peaceful; if you resort to violence, we too will be violent.'' Then he added: "Sometime we have to be violent to uphold the peace." The police was allowing people to leave but not letting many in. Staff members were allowed inside but only after being frisked. A taxi that had a State Bank of India tag was allowed in only after the trunk was opened and everything, including the spare tyre, turned over. Inside, we could see students sitting and discussing the situation. They would not speak to anyone other than Chief Minister Karunanidhi, who recently announced Rs 200,000 compensation to the families of the dead girls. The college is to reopen after a cooling-off period. Those who burnt the bus are well-known and there were many witnesses to the incident. And they'll have it harder since they are members of the All-India Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The three dead girls don't quite figure in these political calculations. And that perhaps is what is arousing the ire of these students. RELATED REPORT:
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