University students assault 'Uthayan' journalist

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 January 2001, 15:30 GMT]
A journalist working for a Tamil daily in Jaffna, the 'Uthayan', was assaulted by Jaffna University students Thursday morning when he went to the campus to gather information about the ragging of new students at the Science Faculty. The paper published a news report on Thursday about students boycotting lectures protesting against the one-year suspension of four senior students involved in ragging.

The students had allegedly assaulted and attempted to tie Mr.N.K.Thuraisingham, an office editor of the paper, when he went to the university this morning. The journalist, however, had managed to escape, according to TamilNet sources.

The journalist has lodged a complaint with the Jaffna police.

Science Faculty students have been boycotting their lectures since 27 December, urging the University authorities to allow the suspended students to follow their courses.