Youth Congress-Kerala Students Union march turns Kozhikode into battle field

KOZHIKODE: The Youth Congress-KSU march to DDE office turned Kozhikode City into a battlefield with the Police using a water cannon to disperse the protesters. A youth Congressman was injured while the police arrested over 300. The protesters were demanding reduction of the fee hike for self-financing courses. The arrested workers were later released on bail. The march which started from the DCC office at 11.45 am reached DDE office around 12.10 pm.

The clashes started when Youth Congress workers tried to break the barricades in front of the DDE office. Over 10 workers climbed the barricades and broke into the DDE office and were removed by the police. When the workers again started breaking through the cordon, the police used the water cannon for five minutes. KSU workers, who boycotted classes in support of the protest, also joined Youth Congress workers.

Kozhikode MP M.K .Raghvan who addressed the protesters said that the LDF which protested against private managements during UDF rule were now trying to safeguard managements’ interests by hiking fees. DCC President K C Abu, who inaugurated the protest, said that the state government was giving an opportunity to managements to exploit poor students.