Jallikattu protest: Student protesting atop train suffers electric shock

Salem: Jallikattu protests that gained strength in Salem district by disciplined gathering of crowd seem to change course on Thursday with frustrated students blocking trains and climbing cell phone towers to make suicide bids. In an unfortunate incident, R. Logesh, 17, of Satya Nagar in Salem, suffered a severe shock, when he climbed atop a train and came in contact with an overhead high voltage electric line.

Hundreds of spirited students blocked a train bound to Karaikal from Bangalore near the government hospital and climbed on its roof shouting slogans against the state and central governments. As the protests were underway, Logesh unknowingly held the overhead high voltage electric cable and suffered a severe shock. He was thrown away in the impact, police said. The other students immediately rushed him to the government hospital, where he is battling for life with severe burns.

At Mulluvadi Gate, more than 10 students climbed a cellphone tower and threatened to commit suicide. They refused to climb down for a long while despite persuasion by police and social activists. With growing support for students protest, Tamil Nadu Lorry Owners Association President Kumarasamy said that four lakh lorries will stay off the road from 6am to 6pm in the state on Thursday.