Chennai: In what could perhaps be its most elaborate initiative for curbing student rowdyism, that has of late dipped to its most violent lows of dagger wars in running buses and trains, the Chennai police has unleashed a carrot-and-stick strategy to keep the ‘kids’ under control when they return to their colleges after summer vacation on Monday.
City police commissioner A.K. Viswanathan held a protracted meeting with senior lieutenants at his office on Saturday, following which specific plans were drawn up to ensure that the 202 bus routes in the city catering to the student community as well as the suburban and metro rail services remained under close monitoring.
“The focus is on identifying the ‘route thalas’ (student rowdies on these routes). We have already got a list of 75 names based on past records showing repeat offenders”, said a senior officer who is part of the ‘big operation’ to ensure peace on and off the campuses.
“We have witnessed in the past how many innocent students end up as victims or get indoctrinated into the campus mobs whereas only a few indulge in violent deeds just to terrorise others, or show off themselves as heroes in cinema style”, said another officer. He recalled how the so-called ‘Bus Day’ events of various colleges turned violent and caused huge consternation among the public, and how the students, of late, had even started using daggers in their public wars in moving buses and trains.
Following the Commissioner’s session with his officers, each range deputy commissioner called the parents along with the students figuring in the ‘list’ over to the station for a ‘counseling session’. The ‘guests’ were told that any unruly behaviour, let alone violence, would be sternly dealt with and the police action could even mar the student’s career if the courts find him guilty on prosecution.
“I told them (students and parents) that the focus should be on education and career-building, not on rowdyism. The welcome thing is that parents showed concern and some even chastised their sons when the latter tried to protest saying they were innocent and were being wrongly blamed”, said I. Eswaran, Ambattur deputy commissioner, soon after one such session at his office.
Educationists are happy at the police efforts. “We hope this will bear fruit and keep not just the campuses but also public places - such as the route buses and trains - free of rowdy conduct”, said a college principal, adding as a note of caution that the police while maintaining law and order should also “be careful as these young people have a future ahead”.
