Stone-Pelting Clash Between Youth Congress, SFI In Kerala; 160 Booked
Several Injured As Youth Congress, SFI Workers Clash During March Against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar
Thiruvananthapuram witnessed a major clash between Youth Congress/KSU and SFI/DYFI activists after a protest march against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar turned violent near a university men's hostel, police said.
The violence broke out around 7.30 pm on Wednesday when the Youth Congress/KSU march reached the Keralam University hostel in the Palayam area. According to police, Youth Congress activists alleged that stones were pelted at the procession from inside the hostel. SFI/DYFI activists, meanwhile, alleged that protesters threw burning torches towards the hostel premises.
The confrontation escalated as stones, beer bottles and other objects were allegedly hurled between the two sides. Some burning torches reportedly landed on a parked car and near the windows of the hostel.
Police intervened to bring the situation under control and carried out a lathi charge inside and outside the hostel. Several students were reportedly injured in the action.
SFI alleged that police assaulted students without provocation and demanded that officers act impartially. The student organisation announced a statewide class boycott and protests at the Secretariat and police headquarters.
Left leaders also criticised the police action and warned officers against targeting students affiliated with the left student union. They called for impartial action against those responsible for the violence.
Following the clash, the Museum police registered two separate cases against activists from both groups.
One case was registered against 80 Youth Congress/KSU activists, including Nemom Shajeer, Gopy Nayyar, Sayedali Kaippadi, Syamlal and Abhijith. Another case was registered against 80 SFI/DYFI activists, including Venu, Sreekumar, Denny, Aswin and Adithyan.
Police said the cases were registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Kerala Police Act, the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act, and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
According to police, the offences invoked in the cases are non-bailable and the accused will be summoned and arrested as part of the investigation.
The clash has triggered fresh political tensions in the state capital, with SFI announcing statewide protests at educational institutions. Police are examining the circumstances that led to the confrontation and the allegations made by both sides.