Chennai: On Monday when colleges reopened after summer vacation, police in Chennai apprehended 24 college students for travelling on the roof of buses (route numbers 47 A in Ayanavaram and 21 in Royapettah). Anticipating trouble
during the new academic year, police had tightened their vigil on bus and train routes to prevent clashes of any kind over previous enmity.
According to police, the ruckus was created by a group of students of Pachayappa's College, who came to the college on an MTC bus (route No 47 A) on Monday morning, that prompted the police to intercept the vehicle at Aynavaram. They also indulged in attacking some passengers who refused to alight from the bus. The students also climbed atop the bus and started dancing, police said.
However, Aynavaram police secured 13 students from Pachaiyappa's College and Ambedkar Arts and science college. Police said most of them where old students. They influenced the freshers to celebrate bus day and create a ruckus. In Royapettah also, police secured a group of students of New College for creating a nuisance by travelling on the roof of the bus but let them off with a stern warning. Similar incidents were reported in other places well. Despite the Madras high court ban on bus day celebration which has become a public nuisance and a threat to road users, students still continue to do the same.
Police officers had called students to stations and counselled them against indulging in unlawful activities. They had also held talks with college authorities. Finally, their parents were summoned and students were let off with a stern warning.
