Police today arrested seven Allied Aeronautic Training Centre students in Ara Damansara after they protested against the management of a private institution.

The eighth person arrested was PSM central committee member Sharan Raj, who is an adviser to the college's students' union.

According to a media statement by PSM secretary-general A Sivarajan, the students were protesting against an alleged act of union-busting by the management.

"The owner of the training centre declined to negotiate with the group and called the police to have them arrested.

"They are now being taken to the Kelana Jaya police station," Sivarajan said in the statement.

When contacted via text message, Sharan told Malaysiakini they were detained by police at 5pm.

He said the protest started at 3pm with 90 students from the training centre participating in the demonstration.

The protest was triggered after two students were dismissed for their involvement in setting up the union, the students claimed.

Petaling Jaya deputy police chief Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood, in a statement, confirmed the arrests.

He said the eight were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in the discharge of public functions.

If convicted, a person is liable up to two years imprisonment, or a fine of up to RM10,000 or both.

Ku Mashariman put the number of protesters at 50 and named Sharan as their leader.

The eight were released on police bail tonight.