Thanjavur: Braving heavy downpour, hundreds of students and youth continued their sit-in protest in front of the head post office here for the fifth consecutive day today.

The agitators said they would not call off their stir until Jallikattu was conducted officially.

“We do not want an ordinance as a temporary measure to hold the Jallikattu this year. We want a permanent solution and an order that would enable us to hold Jallikattu without any legal tangle/hindrance in the years to come,” S. Muthukumar, an activist, said.

Nine students began a ‘fast unto death’ in front of the MGR statue near the railway junction this morning. They were joined by 62-year-old retired police head constable Sivasundaram.

A group of students, including considerable number of girls were seen dancing to the beating of drums, and displaying their mastery of ‘silambam’(traditional martial art) near the Annai Sathya Stadium in Thanjavur. They also raised slogans against the Centre.

Members of Retired Police Officers Association took out a rally from near the GA Canal bridge to railway junction to express their solidarity with the youth and students. Retired Superintendent of Police Indrajit flagged off the rally. The Association’s District President, Devan, and District Secretary Padmanaban and several others participated.

Officials and employees of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department also took out a rally from the Big Temple to railway junction.