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Chennai, May 30: On Tuesday evening the situation outside IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Madras campus remained tense after a PhD scholar was attacked by a right-wing group for organising a ‘beef fest’ on Monday. A large number of PhD students were involved in the protest today and at the end of the protest, students consumed beef outside the varsity campus, news agency ANI reported. Following the incident, a large number of police officials have been deployed at the campus of IIT Madras and its adjoining areas which are tense. Some reports suggest that the attackers belonged to a group of Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad (ABVP) a right-wing student union organisation. The student identified as Sooraj was admitted to a local hospital and a case has been registered against unknown individuals.
On Tuesday evening a research scholar at the IIT Madras campus was thrashed by a group of students for leading Sunday’s “beef fest” at the varsity campus against the Centre’s new amendment on cattle trade.
To mark the protest against Central government’s recent ban on cattle slaughter on Sunday around 80 students gathered at the IIT Madras campus and ate beef to mark as a protest. In Tamil Nadu, the slaughter of cow and calf is banned but there is no bar of the slaughter of buffaloes, bull or ox.
Today’s incident took place at the hostel mess when Sooraj R was questioned by another student that why he got involved in the “beef fest”. At the same time, Sooraj was surrounded by five-six other people who started beating him up. The PhD student was thrashed brutally and received injuries in his right eye and was taken to hospital by his friends.
Moments after the attack the IIT Madras students association called a protest meeting against the violence outside the varsity campus. Also Read – IIT Madras student, who organised ‘beef fest’, attacked by ABVP students in campus
According to a report, the IIT had ordered a probe into the clash and its spokesperson who was quoted by the NDTV said, “After the inquiry, appropriate action will be taken”. The IIT Madras has downplayed the entire incident and had described the fight as an “altercation” between two students. The IIT’s official version said: “both students suffered injury and were given first-aid”.
The news about alleged attack came at a time when the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court suspended the Centre’s controversial rule that would have made it difficult for the meat industry to survive in the Muslim-dominated area. The directive of the court would be in force for four weeks.
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