Students of an engineering college here set on fire books, furniture and bicycles in their hostel to protest the proposed hike in hostel fees, police said on Friday.
The students alleged that the management of the PSG College of Technology had increased the fees for ordinary hostel room to Rs 19,000, putting an additional burden of Rs 5,000 on a student annually.
Shouting slogans against the management, the students also ransacked the hostel warden's room last night.
Senior police officials, including city police commissioner Amaresh Pujari rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control.
After the protest, the management and students held negotiations and the proposed hike was withdrawn late last night, the college sources said.
About 100 policemen, deployed in the hostel premises, were withdrawn following the decision, police said, adding, no complaints had been lodged.