School kids abducted for USE stir

TIRUCHY: Tension prevailed in the city after some 25 students were forcibly taken away by members of the Puratchikara Manavar Iyakkam (Revolutionary Students Movement) for a protest demanding implementation of Uniform School Education (USE), on Tuesday.According to sources, around 9 am, a six-member group of the Puratchikara Manavar Iyakkam of the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam, led by district president Kilarchiyaalan and Ranjith Kumar, went to the school at Bhima Nagar in a van and lured the school students to get into the vehicle promising them a trip around the city.Around 25 students got into the van, which proceeded to the CE Higher Secondary School in Vannarapettai, where 20 students more students were picked up. The van then sped towards the CEO’s office on Madurai Road near Marakkadai.Realising that the van was taking a detour, the children started screaming for help thinking that they were being kidnapped.On hearing their screams, the public passed on the information to the police. Their parents too were informed. Parents, who rushed to the respective schools in the city and found their children missing, informed the Fort police station. Assistant Commissioner of Police (Fort) Stalin and Inspector Kannadasan launched a search for the van.Meanwhile, the children were asked to picket the office of the CEO demanding implementation of Samacheer Kalvi. However, the children started crying out of fear. Soon, police and parents arrived at the spot.On seeing the police, the Makkal Kalai Iyakkam members asked the children to raise slogans, but they started to cry louder.Based on a complaint from Rajarajeshwari, headmistress of the Corporation Middle School, the police arrested Revolutionary Students Movement district secretary K Rajesh alias Kilarchiyaalan (24), activists K Vasanth (23), S Vennila (21), K Ranjith Kumar (27), K Venkatesh (25), V Thamizh Selvan (25), van driver B Abdul Kalam (39) and cleaner J Chenguttuvan (23).