Synopsis
Nine college students were arrested by the Government Railway Police in Chennai after a stone-pelting incident at Korattur railway station, stemming from ongoing rivalries between students. This culture of gang conflicts on public transport continues to pose serious threats to commuter safety.Key Takeaways
- Nine students arrested for stone-pelting.
- Incident related to inter-college rivalries.
- Authorities respond quickly to ensure passenger safety.
- Cultural issue linked to student gangs.
- Ongoing efforts to curb violence on public transport.
Chennai, March 11 (NationPress) The Government Railway Police (GRP) detained nine college students on Tuesday following a disturbance at Korattur railway station on Monday.
The incident transpired on March 10 when students from a college were aboard a suburban train traveling from Chennai to Arakkonam.
As the train stopped at Korattur railway station, students from a competing college spotted them and began throwing stones at the train coach.
Fearful passengers sought cover and quickly notified the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Fortunately, no passengers sustained injuries. Upon seeing the authorities, the students fled the area.
The GRP filed a case and, acting on intelligence inputs, apprehended nine students from a local college.
Police indicated that the attack was a result of ongoing inter-college student rivalry, a recurring issue during travels on public transportation, especially on suburban trains and state-operated buses.
This trend, referred to as “Route Thala” or “Route Leader”, involves students forming groups to assert control and attack peers from rival colleges.
Such clashes frequently lead to serious injuries.
In October 2024, a violent confrontation between students from Presidency College and Pachaiyappa’s College at Moor Market Suburban Railway Station resulted in the death of a third-year Presidency College student named Sundar, who suffered severe injuries during the incident.
In light of Sundar’s death, Chennai police charged five students from Pachaiyappa’s College — Easwar, Chandru, Yuvraj, Kamaleswar, and Hariprasad — with murder.
Authorities have recognized this culture as a significant factor in student gang rivalries in Chennai colleges, often escalating into street brawls and causing anxiety among commuters.
Each bus or train route is overseen by a “Route Thala”, a final-year student who has been using that route for no less than three years. These leaders are identifiable by their distinct clothing and are expected to manage gang disputes.
This culture is believed to have started in the early 1990s when students altered the lyrics of popular film songs to mock rival colleges.
In retaliation, students from other institutions responded with their own songs, heightening tensions leading to physical altercations along public transport routes.
Despite ongoing efforts by Chennai police to monitor and dismantle these student gangs in collaboration with college administrators, such violent occurrences continue to be a significant concern on suburban train and bus routes.
