Synopsis
The Greater Chennai Police have called upon Pachaiyappa's College to take action against nine students involved in a violent incident at Korattur railway station. The clash highlights ongoing rivalries among students, raising concerns about safety in public transport.Key Takeaways
- Chennai Police have urged Pachaiyappa's College to act against involved students.
- The violent clash occurred on March 10 at Korattur railway station.
- No injuries were reported among passengers.
- The incident is part of a larger issue of student rivalries.
- Authorities emphasize stricter monitoring of public transport.
Chennai, March 12 (NationPress) The Greater Chennai Police have requested Pachaiyappa’s College to impose disciplinary measures against nine students implicated in a violent confrontation at Korattur railway station.
This incident unfolded on March 10 while students from Pachaiyappa’s College were aboard a suburban train heading from Chennai to Arakkonam.
When the train halted at Korattur station, students from a competing college recognized them and began hurling stones at their coach.
Fearful passengers sought refuge and promptly informed the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Fortunately, no passengers sustained injuries during this incident.
Upon seeing the authorities, the students made a quick escape.
Nonetheless, the Government Railway Police (GRP) initiated an investigation and, acting on intelligence, apprehended nine students from Pachaiyappa’s College.
The police suspect the assault was tied to ongoing student rivalries, a frequent issue on Chennai’s suburban train and bus routes.
This altercation is part of a broader trend known as “Route Thala” or “Route Leader” culture, where students form gangs based on their commuting paths and engage in violent confrontations with rival college factions.
This troubling phenomenon has been a persistent issue in Chennai, often resulting in serious injuries and, occasionally, fatalities.
In October 2024, a vicious brawl between students from Presidency College and Pachaiyappa’s College at Moor Market Suburban Railway Station led to the death of Sundar, a third-year student from Presidency College.
In the aftermath, Chennai Police detained five students from Pachaiyappa’s College — Easwar, Chandru, Yuvraj, Kamaleswar, and Hariprasad — on murder charges.
The “Route Thala” system functions with final-year students overseeing specific bus and train routes. These students, familiar with the routes, act as gang leaders, asserting control and instigating conflicts against students from other institutions.
The origins of this culture trace back to the early 1990s when students began altering popular movie songs to mock rival colleges.
Over time, these innocent musical rivalries evolved into physical confrontations.
Despite ongoing efforts by the Chennai Police to dismantle these student gangs in partnership with college administrations, violent confrontations continue.
Authorities remain watchful, stressing the need for stricter oversight of public transportation and enhanced disciplinary actions within educational institutions to mitigate student violence.
