Day after clashes at Kerala University, SFI march turns violent

T’puram: A protest march led by SFI turned violent in front of the Secretariat on Tuesday, leading to clashes with police and tensions in the area for nearly an hour.

The SFI march, organized in protest of police action following the recent violence after the Kerala University (KU) union election, reached the Secretariat area around 1.30pm. Activists attempted to push through police barricades placed on the road leading to the Secretariat, triggering a confrontation with the police.

Police used water cannons at least five times to disperse the protesters as activists continued raising slogans and trying to breach the barricades. Scuffles broke out between police personnel and protesters during the agitation. Traffic movement in the area was also affected for some time.

Cantonment police later registered a case in connection with the violence and attempts to damage barricades during the protest.

Meanwhile, city police have also registered separate cases against SFI and KSU activists over the violent clashes that erupted in Palayam after the KU union election results on Monday evening.

Police said cases were filed against 11 SFI leaders, including state president M Shivaprasad, in connection with rioting, violence and destruction of public property worth around Rs 30,000. Cases were also registered against KSU activists following complaints from SFI workers.

The clashes broke out near the KU campus during SFI’s victory celebrations after the university union election. Activists from both student organizations allegedly pelted stones and attacked each other, triggering tension across the Palayam area in the state capital.