Students stage dharna over land issue

Coimbatore, an 12 (PTI): Close on the heels of teachersand staff of Bharathiar University here observing a one-dayfast on January 8, over 1,000 students today staged a dharnain the campus protesting handing over 1.3 acres to AnnaUniversity of Technology to construct new buildings.

The students raised slogans against the Government andUniversity authorities for the sale of land, claiming it wouldseriously affect the future of coming generation and alsoresearch activities.

They said the land sold was being utilised by BU forresearch in medicinal and herbal plants.

Once Anna University starts constructing buildings, theplants and species in four to five acres around the campuswould be totally destroyed, they said.

Though the vice-chancellor, Dr Swaminathan and seniorpolice officials tried to convince the students to withdrawtheir dharna, which continued it till evening, police said.