Outside IIT-Madras, protesters clash with cops over ban of students' group

Members of the students’ body of Indian Institutes of Technology-Madras, whose derecognition for allegedly violating code of conduct has sparked off a major political row, on Tuesday staged a protest inside the campus demanding recognition and an apology from the dean for his action against them.

Members of Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle staged a placard-holding protest inside the premises of the premier technical education, even as the media was not allowed entry to cover the agitation.

The agitating members were seen raising slogans against the management of IIT-Madras, demanding that their study circle be recognised and the dean apologise for derecognising it.

Meanwhile, journalists who went to cover the protest by APSC members were not allowed entry inside and were seen arguing with the police.

Soon, the protests turned violent as protesters clashed with the police. Around 100 protesters have been detained, sources said. Some members of a local students' group, the RYSF, were allegedly roughed up by the police. 

IIT-Madras is in the eye of a political storm over the derecognition of APSC for allegedly criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, even as Union Human Resource Development Minster Smriti Irani has come under fire from political parties like Congress and students’ bodies.

IIT-Madras had, however, maintained that “as per the guidelines in force, student bodies cannot use the name of IIT-Madras or its official entities in any capacity to publicise their activities or garner support without official permission.”

“This group has violated the guidelines while conducting their meeting,” Prof Ramamurthy, Acting Director, had said last week. 

Photographs: PTI