http://newstodaynet.com/newsindex.php?id=12275%20&%20section=7
Friday, 14 November, 2008 Chennai Law students leave hostel in fear R G Jagadish | Fri, 14 Nov, 2008,03:09 PM . The clash between students in Dr Ambedkar Law College in Chennai on Wednesday has led not only to the closure of law colleges in the State but also the law students hostel on Millers Road at Kilpauk in the city from where students have begun leaving for their hometown. . When enquired about this, some of the advocates and lawyers told this reporter that the college hostel had been the hub of criminal and notorious activities. Hence, it's not surprising to see some of the decent students leaving with their bag and baggage in fear, they said. When contacted, the hostel warden said, 'failure to check aggression among hostel students belonging to a particular community had been the reason behind the violence that had rocked the campus of the Tamilnadu Dr Ambedkar Government Law College.' He also said the hostel had witnessed influence of certain political parties on some of the good students who later took to violent ways to settle scores. A student said violence was not unusual at the hostel. 'Three months ago, in the hostel canteen, seniors had chopped off the ear of a junior student for some reason. It is those hostel students, who belong to the outskirts of Chennai and remote villages where community clashes are common, who indulge in riots' He also said that students of a particular community were in the majority and always thrashed up students from other communities. Another student Madan said,' Because of casteism, several outsiders, including students, who had failed to complete their studies within the specified period were sharing accommodation in the hostel. All the rooms in the hostel were stored with lethal weapons alongside textbooks. This resulted in even the good students getting affected as many parents dread entering the hostel to visit their wards.' Kumaran, also a student, narrated a nasty incident in the hostel. He recalled, 'When my mother and sister came from Kaatumannar Koil to visit me in the hostel, some of the students from a particular community teased my sister and spoke to the two in a filthy language.' Kumaran was helpless and did not complain as he feared for his life. With the situation being thus, the fate of the well-behaved students is a big question mark.
