TN cops try hard to avoid jallikattu stir-like scenario

Police are preparing to prevent unrest during the protests and avoid a repeat of the decade-old Jallikattu agitation that ended in clashes and allegations of excesses.

Police personnel standing guard along Marina beach promenade on Thursday as part of security arrangements to prevent any untoward incidents amid calls for student demonstrations in support of the anti-NEET protests Photo | P Ravikumar

CHENNAI: Anti-NEET demonstrations that were initially confined to a handful of locations are now being held regularly at colleges and public venues across Chennai and other districts.

The police too are gearing up to ensure the situation does not go out of control like what happened during the Jallikattu protest about a decade ago that ended up in police excesses on the protesters.

E Aravind (22), an independent rapper who has been participating in the demonstrations at Balan Illam for the past two days, said the mobilisation was largely organic, with participants learning about the protests through social media algorithms, Instagram, X, verified WhatsApp communities and friends.

“People who had earlier engaged with posts on NEET protests began receiving information. Many also joined through the Chennai WhatsApp community, where verified protest details were shared,” he said.

With the protests gathering pace, the Greater Chennai Police have stepped up security at locations identified as potential protest sites, including Marina Beach (the epicentre of the 2017 Jallikattu protests that drew thousands of demonstrators), Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore and Lok Bhavan in Guindy. A senior police officer said an additional 100 to 150 personnel had been deployed at each of these locations.

At Marina beach, the police briefly barred public entry on Thursday after receiving intelligence inputs that student and Left-affiliated organisations were likely to stage a protest.

Around 300 police personnel were deployed, entry points were closed, visitors were asked to leave and groups suspected of assembling for the protest were turned away. Police sources said the restrictions remained in force only for a couple of hours, after which the public was allowed back following security checks.

Meanwhile, allegations surfaced that some police personnel deployed at protest sites over the past few days were not wearing their nameplates. Responding to the allegation, a senior police officer told TNIE there was no attempt to conceal identities.

“A couple of days ago, while clearing a protest, some personnel’s nameplates broke. To avoid losing them again, many AR personnel have not been wearing them,” the officer added.