NEET Tragedy: Tamil Nadu burns as Anitha is laid to rest
- S Anitha’s suicide has sparked a series of protests in places like Chennai and Coimbatore
- Around 1500 policemen have been deployed across Tamil Nadu to stop the protests from spiralling out of control
- At around 11 pm on Saturday, September 2, the body of Anitha was taken to the cremation grounds amidst a huge crowd
FollowS Anitha’s suicide has sparked a series of protests throughout Tamil Nadu. Agitators took to the streets in places like Chennai and Coimbatore protesting her death over NEET admissions.
17-year-old Anitha was a medical aspirant who had scored 1,176 marks out of 1,200 in the plus two exams under the Tamil Nadu state board. However, she was unable to score high marks in the NEET to secure a medical seat. Her NEET score was a paltry 86 out of 720 marks.
Hailing from a small village called Kuzhumur in AriyÂalur, Anitha was unable to comprehend NEET and was unable to spend money on extra coaching class as NEET is based on CBSE syllabus.
She believed that the newly launched entrance test was detrimental to the interests of students from rural areas and took the fight to the Supreme Court, but in vain. She was found hanging from a ceiling fan at her house in Ariyalur district on Friday morning, September 1.
The New Indian Express reported that several political leaders reached her village and proteÂsÂts erupted across Tamil NaÂdu on Saturday. Youth from vaÂrious outfits and cadre from the yoÂuth wing of opposition parties hit the street with anger.
In Coimbatore, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK)-led protesters burnt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effigy at Gandhipuram opposing NEET. Members of VCK, Tanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam, Dravidar Kazhagam and Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam attempted rail blockade, which was prevented by the police, reported the Hindu.
Political parties and other organizations protested in Salem amidst security arrangements by the police. They demanded permanent withdrawal of the NEET. Members of the DYFI and SFI staged 'road roko' in front of the Suramangalam head post office.
In Namakkal, the cadre of the CPI (M) staged demonstrations at Elachipalayam and Tiruchengode towns, reported the Hindu.
In Chennai, nine places saw protests held by student groups and smaller political parties. Agitations were held before Chief Minister E Palaniswami’s residence. The agitators also protested before senior lawyer Nalini Chidambaram’s house who had represented the students seeking medical admissions only under NEET.
Around 1500 policemen have been deployed across Tamil Nadu to stop the protests from spiralling out of control.
In Ariyalur, almost all shops across the district downed their shutters in respect of Anitha after the traders’ body had called for a shutdown.
DMK working president M K Stalin, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, Dravida Kazhagam leader K Veeramani, DMDK leader Vijayakant, DMK’s Tiruchy N Siva MP, and dissenting AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran were among those who met her father Shanmugham, a loadman at Gandhi market in neighbouring Tiruchy, reported the New Indian Express.
Several members from the crowd at Ariyalur wanted to continue the agitation by not cremating Anitha’s body, till the Central government banned NEET. However, at around 11 pm on Saturday, September 2, the body was finally taken from their home towards the cremation ground.
