Thanjavur: While violence erupted in Chennai and Coimbatore areas, the week-long protest in Thanjavur fizzled out as the students and youth withdrew their protest in response to the appeal made by the police.

As the protests entered the seventh day today, a group of students and youth arrived at the venue in front of the Head Post Office to continue their sit-in protests. However, senior police officers led by Additional SP A Kannan held talks with the protesters and persuaded them to withdraw their agitation.

“We have confidence in the ordinance promulgated by the State Government enabling the conduct of Jallikattu and hence we are withdrawing our protest,” said S Gunasekaran, a protester.

Another youth alleged that some anti-social elements had now crept into their camps. “We could not have any control over them. So we decided to withdraw our peaceful protest in response to the appeal made by the police,” he said.

Though the students withdrew their protests and dispersed, police deployment still continued at the venue.

In Pattukottai, the protesters even distributed saplings to police personnel in appreciation of the cooperation and protection provided to the agitators during their week-long protest.