Violence broke out at Chennai’s Sathyabama University on Wednesday after a first year student committed suicide.

Student allege that Ragamonika, a student from Andhra Pradesh killed herself after she was humiliated by a professor for copying in an examination. After she was sent out of the examination hall, Ragamonika allegedly took her own life in her hostel room.

Her body has been sent to Royapettah Government Hospital for post-mortem.

Following news of her death, students protested demanding justice for Ragamonika.

A student who spoke to TNM said that first-year students, who are Ragamonika's batchmates had initiated the protests. By 7.30pm on Wednesday, the protests soon spiralled into violence and arson.

"They burnt stuff outside first year men's hostel. Then they burnt a tree. None of the buildings were damaged I think. At 11.00 pm also there is a huge crowd outside the college gate," a student told TNM.

When the violence began, most students ran out of the hostel, he added.

Visuals from the university show a blaze in a building on campus with tables and chairs set on fire. 

Mobile footage also show several students protesting demanding justice for Ragamonika.

According to reports, more than 300 students protested, with several indulging in violence.

Around 200 police personnel were present on the campus to help quell the unrest, while armed police have been deployed outside Sathyabama University.

The situation has been brought under control now, said police officials.

However, one student TNM spoke to said that the campus is still tensed.

In 2012, the university had witnessed violence, on a smaller scale, as angry students protested against the college for not replying to AICTE's new regulations.

This is a developing story