Thiruvanthapuram: Violence erupted in the University College here on Friday and a student was stabbed during a clash between two sections of SFI activists. Akhil Chandran, a third-year political science student, was admitted to Medical College Hospital with serious injuries and an emergency surgery was performed on him. The police registered a case of murder attempt against six SFI activists, including Nasim, former unit president, and Adwaith, Amal, Aromal, Ibrahim and Shiva Ranjith.
However, a complaint signed by 300 students submitted to principal K. Viswambharan listed 13 accused in the case, including three outsiders.
Earlier, there was an argument between two student groups in the college after a few students sang a song in the canteen. The two groups were invited for a mediation talks. During the talks, one of Akhil's friends was attacked.
This resulted in a heated argument and a large group rushed into the campus from outside and attacked Akhil and his friends. In the chaos, Akhil was stabbed.
Incidentally, Nasim was an accused in a case related to assaulting a policeman. He is in the PSC list for appointment of police personnel. SFI all-India president V.P. Sanu said that the SFI University College unit has been dissolved.
A section of students staged a march towards the secretariat demanding action against the SFI unit members.
The students alleged that the attackers were SFI activists and started protest against SFI leaders on the campus. They ended the protest after higher police officials assured to arrest the culprits soon.
The higher education department has initiated a probe by the collegiate education additional director into the issue.
Akhil was beaten up earlier also for bringing a bike to the campus and in connection with publishing pictures in magazines. This was settled following the intervention of SFI district leaders on the complaints of Akhils’ father.
Tension prevailed in the college as KSU, ABVP and MSF activists took out a march to the college. They were later arrested and removed by the police.
The media personnel were forcibly removed from the campus by some student activists on the instructions of the principal. He said that he was not aware of the incident as he was busy with admission process.
