Man climbs 80-foot-high ad hoarding in support of Anna Hazare

An autorickshaw driver Wednesday climbed a 80-feet high advertising hoarding on the Rajiv Gandhi Road in Chennai concerned over Anna Hazare's "deteriorating health" and urging the centre to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.

Shakthivel from Tambaram with a tricolour band on his forehead climbed the hoarding erected near Thiruvanmiyur Railway station and threatened to jump, police said.

Police personnel convinced Shakthivel to climb down after two-and-a-half hours of persuasion, they said.

"Anna Hazare's health is deteriorating. The Centre has to pass Jan Lokpal bill in this Parliament session. Are we still under the British rule?" Shakthivel said after climbing down, they said.

Earlier, Shathivel distributed pamphlets supporting Hazare, whose fast entered the ninth day.

A Coimbatore report said over 3,500 colelge students formed a two-km long human chain there in support of Hazare's protest.

The students, including girls, were drawn from 20 different colleges in and around the city.

The human chain was peaceful and disciplined without causing any traffic disruption, police said.