Assault on university student triggers protest, one arrested

The Navalpattu police have arrested a 26-year-old man on charges of assaulting a hostel student of the Bharathidasan University outside the varsity campus on Thursday night. The name of the arrested person was given as Manikandan of Mandaiyur.

Police sources said the hostel student Prabhakaran, 22, along with another person came to a bakery situated opposite to the university to have a cup of tea in the night. Manikandan and a couple of his friends were said to be smoking at the bakery at that time. 

Prabhakaran reportedly questioned Manikandan and his friends as to why they blew the smoke on his face leading to a quarrel between them. Prabhakaran was assaulted allegedly by Manikandan who left the spot along with his friends. Upon coming to know about the assault on Prabhakaran, a first year physical education student, a group of hostel students of the university staged a road roko on the Tiruchi – Pudukottai national highway for some time warranting the intervention of the local police.

After examining the video footage from the CCTV camera, the police arrested Manikandan on charges of assaulting Prabhakaran. The Navalpattu police have registered a case.