Chennai: 4 held after video of students brandishing knives on train goes viral

Chennai: That the route rivalry between city college students is a menace is a fact well-documented. Now, a video has surfaced -- uploaded by one of the students on social media -- which shows students travelling on footboard in a suburban train striking knives and metal rods on the platform as the train comes to a halt at the Nemmilichery railway station, 35 km from Chennai central.

According to reports, police have arrested four students and are interrogating two others.

The video was uploaded by a student, Bharathiraja, supposedly of Pachaiyappa’s college on October 7. While railway police are not clear when the incident happened exactly, the chilling video shows passengers at the Nemmilichery railway station, running for cover as the train comes to a halt.

Two other videos showed the students bursting crackers on the railway platform and creating a ruckus there. Some of them were also seen wearing ID cards of their colleges.

Railway police officers told DC that a simmering tension between rival college students exists in Chennai Arakkonam line and they would be probing into the video.

“We will be holding talks with college managements to help us identify the students who come from Triuvallur district,” a senior railway protection force official said.

On Monday, RPF personnel detained seven persons including four students near Central railway station on suspicion. One Presidency College student was detained at  Hindu College railway station for possessing dangerous weapons.
Meanwhile, Pachaiyappa’s college authorities have told DC that they would take severe action if it is proved that the students in the video are from their college. “We are aware of the video. Strict action would be taken against such students,” a professor said.