New Delhi, Aug 17 (IANS) Several colleges and even some schools in the capital logged meagre attendance Wednesday with students playing truant to express solidarity with anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.

"We missed our weekly examination today to come out in support of Anna Hazare. After watching the developments on television last night, we came to India Gate in a group," 18-year-old Shilpa Verma, student of the New Delhi Institute of Information and Technology, told IANS Wednesday, a day after Hazare was arrested to thwart his fast for a strong Lokpal Bill.

He was subsequently released but refused to come out of the prison until the government agreed to let him protest without any conditions.

Verma and her friends were defiant. "We don't really fear arrest," she hit out.

Deepak, a Class 10 student of Sarvodaya Vidyalaya in Hari Nagar had been camping at India Gate since 2 p.m. with a group of friends, when IANS caught up with him. He was part of a large group of high school students.

"I came here after school to support Hazare-ji. This is our time to show that the youth of the country are also committed to the cause of eradicating corruption," Deepak shot back, refusing to divulge his surname.

Lovleen Sharma, a college student, chanted slogans in support of Hazare outside Tihar jail Wednesday morning.

"We have missed classes to support Anna. We came outside Tihar Jail at 8 a.m. today to fast and support the agitation," Sharma said.

Many of those who flocked to India Gate in support of Anna Hazare were barely out of their 20s.

"Corruption is bane in the society. I had to come out in protest of it. Education means nothing in a country that is mired in corruption," Annesha Mahapatra, a final year student of Gargi College, told IANS.

A teacher of Gargi College, without naming herself expressed fear that "such mass hysteria affects students who are impressionable".

"It takes them away from the scholastic regimen. This is a frightening trend - one that later leads to political involvement on the campus. Politics on campus should be discouraged," she warned.

Parents too are a worried lot. "My son has been debating the merits of the anti-corruption crusade for the last two days. I have not been able to coax him back to books," Narayan Chandra Paul, a resident of Kalkaji, told IANS.

His son, a student of a government school in South Delhi, who was rallying for Hazare at India Gate Tuesday evening, had sent the household into a tizzy when he "left home without a word".

"He will appear for Class 12 board examination next year. I had to drag him home by force," the exasperated father complained.

The movement, surprisingly, has struck a chord among the youth, many of whom have just heard of corruption, but have not experienced it, Paul said.

Agra marches, raises slogans in support of Anna

Agra, Aug 17 (IANS) Students, teachers, businessmen... people from various walks of life were out on streets of Agra Wednesday, pledging their support for Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign.

Many schools and colleges remained closed as students marched to Shahid Smarak at Sanjay Place. The Agra Facebook page was full of support messages while SMSes venting out anger against the government were doing the rounds.

At most crossings from Bhagwan Talkies to Pratab Pura Chauraha on MG Road -- the lifeline of the city -- people were staging protests.

"The teachers are agitated, the black bands are all over. People are waiting for the central government to act. The solidarity of teachers and students is complete," Vikas Pandit, a lecturer at Agra University, told IANS.

People in Achnera, Etmadpur, Bah, Pinahat and many other small towns were organising marches.

The Agra Pharma Association, National Chamber of Industries and Commerce, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) Agra chapter, the Agra Cloth Mecantile Association, the Agra Bar, Bharat Vikas Parishad, Agra Public Carriers Association, and dozens of other groups have joined the campaign.

The university offices wore a deserted looks. The courts were deserted as lawyers stayed away. "The middle class has woken up. The IT professionals, the fired youth, they are all out there shouting slogans, committing to work for Anna. It's a 'Rang De Basanti' scenario," said social activist Sudhir Gupta.

The tourists at Taj Mahal and other monuments were amused and were seen asking questions.

Hazare was jailed Tuesday ahead of his fast for an effective anti-corruption law.

The Delhi Police action led to protests across the country. The government later released Hazare but he refused to move out of the jail until he was allowed to carry on his hunger-strike without any conditions.