Around 15 people including college students and activists were allegedly illegally detained by the Chennai police while protesting against NEET and the privatisation of education outside the Intellectual Property office in Chennai on Thursday.
The protesters were arrested for “creating a public nuisance” and for allegedly attacking police personnel.
They were demanding that India withdraw from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and stop the privatisation of education in the country. Speaking to TNM, Grace Banu, a transgender activist, said, “We were protesting outside the Intellectual Property office on Thursday morning demanding the Central government stop selling education and withdraw from the WTO. Police came and arrested us alleging that we were creating a public nuisance and falsely charged us for attacking police personnel,” she said.
They were taken to the Saidapet Court but the protesters refused to sign few papers given by the police, as they were refused an explanation on why they were being booked under non-bailable sections.
“We refused to sign few papers given by police because they have charged us with non-bailable sections. Then they took us back to Mohan Mandapam in Guindy, where we have been detained,” said Grace Banu.
TNM tried contacting the Guindy police station but they refused to give any details about the case and the inspector was unavailable for comment.
Greeshma Rai, a lawyer who represented the activists at Saidpet Court told TNM, “They will be remanded by police as an FIR has already been filed by Guindy police. I spoke to the Sub- Inspector of Guindy police station and he said that an FIR has been filed under Section 143 (Punishment for Unlawful Assembly), 353 (Assault to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 447 (Punishment for criminal trespass). He also said that they are doing this to all the students who are attacking the police and are remanding them across Chennai today.”