2ND LEAD

Fasting students arrested, forcibly hospitalized

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 28 January 2009, 16:54 GMT]
Students of the Chengalpattu Law College who were on a fast-unto-death seeking an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka were arrested by the Tamil Nadu police Wednesday morning even as their fast entered the seventh day. The students were hospitalized and their condition is being monitored. According to eyewitness accounts, the police forbade anybody from capturing photographs or video-footage of the arrest.

According to sources in Chennai, the police also ensured that news-reports avoid any mention of arrests, and instead publicize the wrong information that the fast had been withdrawn, and that the students were admitted to a hospital because of their grave health condition. The arrest had also taken place at 6:30 a.m. when not many supporters were present at the venue.

A protesting student told TamilNet, "We refused to give up our fast on any account, unless of course, some other students started a similar fast."

Responding to such an appeal, students of the Salem Law College have embarked on an indefinite hunger strike Wednesday.

According to news-reports in the Tamil media, the students were upset at their arrest and hospitalization, that even in the Critical Care Unit, they removed the IV needles and flung away the glucose bottles. They demanded to be taken back to the fasting venue so that they could continue their fast-unto-death.

Chronology: