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A series of violent clashes and protests erupted in Thiruvananthapuram University College and later on the streets of the city between the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and the Youth Congress and the Kerala Students' Union (KSU), the student wing of Congress, on the evening of Wednesday, September 30.
The first clash lasted for nearly three to four hours outside the University men's hostel and University college near Palayam.
Following the clash, the city also witnessed protests by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). Senior CPI(M) leader and Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan and former minister V Sivankutty also came to the protest venue.
The issue reportedly began when the Youth Congress conducted a protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Youth Congress workers alleged that stones and beer bottles were thrown at them from the University men’s hostel.
“When the protest began, the police were present there. However, the police did not expect beer bottles to be thrown at the protesters from the university hostel. Later, stones were also thrown from inside University College. Vehicles that were parked there were vandalised,” Congress MLA Abin Varkky alleged.
However, the SFI alleged that Youth Congress workers threw fireballs at the university hostel. According to reports, after the fireball landed inside the hostel premises, a clash broke out between the two groups in front of the hostel. Subsequently, police officers who entered the hostel allegedly assaulted the students.
Later, CPI(M) leaders V Sivankutty and PK Sreemathy, along with CPI leader V Joy, staged a sit-in protest in front of the University college hostel.
Pinarayi Vijayan too came to the venue and, speaking with the media he criticised the clash. He said that what happened was a one-sided attack. He also stated that there was no provocation from the SFI workers and alleged that Youth Congress workers launched the attack.
“It is certain that the Youth Congress attack was part of a pre-planned decision. This is because, on several occasions in the past, the Congress, Youth Congress, and KSU have targeted the university hostel. The attack that took place here was part of that,” Pinarayi alleged.
Pinarayi also said the Congress workers stopped the injured students from going to hospitals.
To disperse the crowds, the Kerala police resorted to a heavy lathi charge and fired tear gas shells around the Palayam area. Senior police officials, including ADGP P Vijayan, arrived at the scene.