Chennai, March 14: Several local colleges in Tamil Nadu's Pollachi remained closed for a second consecutive day, to protest against the alleged inaction adopted against the key accused in the sexual assault case. The stir was continued by students' community despite an appeal for calm issued by the AIADMK government -- which has given its nod for a CBI probe.

Students of Sri GVG Visalakshi College for Women in nearby Udumalaipettai protested on Thursday hit the streets shouting 'We want justice.' "The culprits should be tortured. The culprits should be given the harshest punishment," said a student. AIADMK Expels Youth Wing Member For Assaulting Victim's Brother.

The students are demanding the arrest of three more persons allegedly involved in the crime, apart from the four main accused, Thirunavukkarasu, Sabarirajan, Vasanthakumar, Satish -- now in custody.

MDMK leader Vaiko told reporters in Chennai that the Madras High Court should have taken cognisance of the crime. Expelled AIADMK member A.Nagaraj who was arrested and let out on bail for attacking the brother of a girl who had complained to the police, told reporters in Coimbatore.

On Wednesday scores of students, lawyers and members of women's organisations took to the streets demanding action against the accused. Students boycotted classes and staged sit-ins demanding stringent punishment.

Advocates practising in Coimbatore staged a demonstration outside the court complex seeking an inquiry committee with a woman judge of the Madras High Court as its head to probe the case. The district administration ordered closure of colleges in the town, 535 km from the state capital, to prevent a repeat of Wednesday's protest by students demanding action against the perpetrators of the heinous crime.

For days, rumours and video clips have been doing the rounds as to how scores of women from college teachers, students, even working professionals and others were sexually assaulted, harassed and blackmailed by the gang.

The Pollachi rape-cum-blackmail case has snowballed into a major issue as authorities, fearing violence following surfacing of scandalous details, declared holidays in local colleges on Thursday, a day after the Tamil Nadu government gave its nod for a CBI probe.

The Madras High Court on Thursday rejected a plea for a special investigation team probe, saying the Central Bureau of Investigation has already been told to probe the case.  The CBI will investigate the two cases which were originally registered at the Pollachi East Police Station, Coimbatore district, last month.

(With IANS inputs)

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 14, 2019 07:48 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).