MADURAI: More than 50 protesters belonging to leftist student organisations and farmer organisations were arrested for organising a rail blockade at the Thiruparankundram railway station on Thursday in support of the ongoing anti-NEET agitation in New Delhi.
Members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), farmers’ organisations and other organisations participated in the stir.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged NEET irregularities and question paper leak.Despite the security arrangements, the protesters breached the barricades and attempted to march towards the railway tracks. Police intercepted them near the station. A few among the protesters laid down on the rail track.
Later, a group of students travelling on the Palakkad-Tiruchendur Express via Madurai got down at the railway station and staged a rail roko by laying and sitting on the tracks in front of the train, disrupting rail traffic and creating tense moments.
Police personnel removed the protesters one by one from the tracks and took them into custody. During the eviction, some students alleged that they were manhandled, and heated arguments broke out between the protesters and the police. The shirts of some students were reportedly torn in the scuffle.
After about 10 minutes of disruption, the police cleared the tracks, following which the train resumed its journey. The protesters said they held the rail blockade at Thiruparankundram expressing solidarity with the nationwide agitation against the NEET irregularities. Police arrested more than 50 protestors — including 24 male and 12 women students — and eight members of the All-India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA).
Also, more than 65 protesters who had gathered in front of the Thiruparankundram police station were also taken into custody.