Students caned during protest against delay in providing laptops

According to police, protests broke out at three places, including Veerappanchatram, where MLAs KV Ramalingam (Erode West) and KS Thennarasu (Erode East) presided over functions held to distribute free laptops. As protesters refused to budge despite holding talks with officials, police arrested as many as 58 students, including 33 girls.

Students of Veerappanchatram Girls Higher Secondary School shouted slogans demanding laptops even as the function was underway. Faced with a hostile response, both MLAs invited a few students into a classroom for talks and assured them that laptops would be provided soon. However, another group of students blocked the road in front of their school for more than 90 minutes.

The agitating students refused to relent despite participating in several rounds of talks with Education department officials and police. Following this, the police began to forcefully arrest the protesting students resulting in tension. The cops also resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse the students.

Similarly, students of Kumalankuttai Government Higher Secondary School gheraoed the vehicles of both MLAs, after they came out after presiding over a free laptop distribution function.

Simultaneously, a group of around 50 students blocked the Erode-Sakthy Road. Former students of the Karungalpalayam Corporation Girls School also staged a protest.