Published Sep 02, 2026 | 5:05 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 02, 2026 | 5:34 PM
The students were travelling towards Pudukkottai in Government Bus No 8. (Supplied)
Synopsis: One of the students, Pavithra, who spoke to South First, alleged that Narikuravar students routinely face discriminatory treatment while travelling on buses. “Whenever we board a bus and it is crowded, they tell us to get down and keep scolding us. Students from other communities also travel, but they do not face such problems. We are the ones who are repeatedly scolded,” she said.
At least 10 students from the Narikuravar community, including nine school students and a college student, were injured while travelling in a government bus in the Keeranur area of Tamil Nadu’s Pudukkottai district on Wednesday.
The students were travelling towards Pudukkottai in Government Bus No 8.
School students from Rangammal Chathiram village and a college student studying in Pudukkottai had boarded the bus at the Rangammal Chathiram bus stop.
One of the students, Pavithra, who spoke to South First, alleged that Narikuravar students routinely face discriminatory treatment while travelling on buses.
“Whenever we board a bus and it is crowded, they tell us to get down and keep scolding us. Students from other communities also travel, but they do not face such problems. We are the ones who are repeatedly scolded,” she said.
According to the students, the bus was crowded when they boarded it this morning. They continued their journey as they had to attend school.
According to one account, the bus was midway to Pudukkottai when its automatic door suddenly opened. The driver, Arjunan, then applied the brakes, causing students standing near the steps to fall from the crowded bus. Several students sustained injuries.
However, some children reportedly told officials that they were pushed out of the bus.
The students alleged that members of their community are often subjected to verbal abuse or that buses sometimes fail to stop for them when they are waiting at bus stops.
Pudukkottai District Chief Educational Officer Shanmugam said that the exact circumstances would be known only after a detailed inquiry.
The injured students are currently receiving treatment at Pudukkottai Government Hospital.
Following the incident, the government bus driver, Arjunan, and the conductor, Manikandan, have been suspended.
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(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose.)
