Engg students attack classrooms, damage buses

CHENNAI: Students of a private engineering college at Mangadu on Monday went on a rampage damaging windows and college buses seeking better facilities in the campus and protesting collection of “excess fee”.Students arrived at their college premises at Chikkurayapuram as usual on Monday morning but instead of going to classes, they assembled in the campus. Later, they held a sit-in protest asking the college authorities to provide better facilities in the hostel and canteen.According to police, some students then damaged the windowpanes of classrooms and security guard’s room, besides breaking lamps put up in the campus. Some students allegedly broke the windows of college buses parked inside.“There are no proper facilities in hostel and canteen but despite that, they charge excess fee. They have made use of college bus compulsory even for students who stay near the college. They are conducting classes on Saturdays, which we don’t want,” said a student.The principal intervened to hold talks but the students refused to budge. The students said that they would talk only with members of the college management and not the principal.Meanwhile, police lined up outside the premises to stop any untoward incident.  The college declared holiday for two days following the protest.