TNAU Bus Will Kept As Memorial
The bus burnt in a mob violence at Dharmapuri some eight years ago, killing three girl students of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) will be kept in a proposed memorial.The additional sessions court on Wednesday ordered the return of the remains of the bus and they were brought to the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.A petition in this regard was filed by the TNAU seeking the return of the bus. It was brought to the Salem court from Coimbatore in February 2005 before the trial commenced.Presently, the students observe mourning every year on the day of the gory incident.
The bus was burnt in February 2000 in a mob violence instigated by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) men following the conviction of party leader J Jayalalithaa in the Pleasant Stay Hotel case. Kokilavani, Gayathri and Hemalatha, who were returning from a study tour in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri in the TNAU bus, were charred to death when AIADMK men set fire to the bus.The additional sessions court gave capital punishment to three of the AIADMK men for being directly responsible for the deaths.Asked what the university intends to do with the remains of the bus, TNAU sources said there is a proposal to place them on a memorial for the three students on the campus. Presently, the students observe mourning every year on the day of the gory incident.
