Chennai: Dozens of Tamils staged a demonstration outside the University of Jaffna in the early hours of today, as armed Sri Lankan troops have blocked off the entrance to the campus after authorities bulldozed a memorial monument.
According to a report in Tamil Guardian, at least two Tamil students have been arrested so far, as the security forces rushed to the scene and crowds grew.
It added that the protestors were calling for the Vice Chancellor of the university to come outside and meet them, as heavy machinery was seen toppling a monument dedicated to the tens of thousands of Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan state during the Mullivaikkal massacres.
Jaffna University’s former Head of Department of Law K Guruparan took to social media to express his disappointment. ‘The previous VC was sacked because he didn’t demolish the monument. I have concrete reasons to believe that one of the pre-conditions for appointment of the new VC by the incumbent President was demolition of this monument,’ Guruparan said.
Even as the demolition sent shock waves among Tamils living across the world, Tamilnadu leaders condemned the incident.
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy CM O Panneerselvam, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, VCK president Thol Thirumavalan and AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran slammed the demolition of the memorial.