Coimbatore:
Renewing their demand to give them preference in appointments in the forest department, about 200 students of the Forest College and Research Institute at nearby Mettupalayam boycotted classes and staged a dharna on the campus.
The students, including 63 girls,squatted on the premises seeking 100 per cent reservation for the Institute's graduates in appointment of forest rangers and forester posts and preference in other forest-related jobs.
They had staged an agitation on the issue last year also, resulting in closure of the college for two weeks. The Government, which brought down the reservation to 25 per cent from 100 per cent, has assured to withdraw the order.
Some students had observed a strike on January 12 this year on the issue to remind the government of its promise, police said.
Since there was no no response from the Government, the students today boycotted classes and staged a dharna on the campus, they said.