: Five more students of Forest College and Research Institute, on an indefinite fast from February 17 on college campus in Mettupalayam, fainted early today and were hospitalised, taking the total number of those admitted to 22, officials said.
The students, part of a group of over 200, have been on a sit in dharna on the campus since January 27,demanding 100 per cent reservation to forestry graduates in appointment of rangers and also a quota in the jobs of foresters.
They started the indefinite fast two days back, saying there was no positive response from the Government to break the deadlock.
Police said that till late last night, 17 students were admitted to the Government Hospital in Mettupalayam. This morning five students also fainted, resulting in their hospitalisation, they said.
The students said some of them had met two senior ministers in Chennai and also Vice Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agriculture Unviersity, to which the institute is a constituent, but nothing fruitful had emerged so far.
Meanwhile,Government started distributing hall tickets for the examination for the foresters posts.
