Students launch boycott demanding electric fence removal

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 July 2003, 02:05 GMT]
Students of the Iyanar Vidiyalayam in Thuraiyoor in the Velanai division of Jaffna district Wednesday launched a school boycott campaign, which they said would continue until the Sri Lanka Navy at the Thuraiyoor camp removed the live electric fence bordering the school, sources said.

A live electric fence separates the SLN camp from the school, sources said.

Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission in Jaffna Wednesday rushed to the school and stopped students from dismantling the live electric fence forcibly, sources said.

Thereafter the SLMM monitors met with the SLN officials at Thuraiyoor and discussed with them the urgent need for the removal of the fence from the area to save students from being electrocuted.

Sources said that the SLN officials later agreed to remove the live electric fence before Friday. However, students said they would continue boycotting school until the SLN removed the live electric fence, sources said.

The students' agitation began Wednesday following the electrocution of a ten-year old Grade Five student, Antony Ajanthan, Tuesday when he touched the fence accidentally while playing in the school grounds. The student's life was saved by timely medical attention.

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