SFI activists clash with police during Kerala Secretariat march

Tension ran high in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday as activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) attempted to march to the Kerala Secretariat, leading to a confrontation with police. The protest was held in response to the lathicharge on SFI members during a demonstration at the University of Kerala headquarters the previous day.

The marchers, led by SFI State president P.S. Sanjeev, carried plantain stems and reached the Secretariat area around 1 p.m., where they were stopped by police barricades. Activists shouted slogans and attempted to scale the barricades, resulting in clashes with personnel. Water cannons were deployed in an effort to disperse the crowd, but the activists persisted.

As the situation escalated, police resorted to a lathicharge, leaving some activists with minor injuries. Senior CPI(M) leaders later arrived at the spot to pacify the demonstrators.

The Tuesday protest had been organised against the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram during the National Sports Day celebrations hosted by the university. Activists have alleged that this reflects a saffronisation of educational institutions.

Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, in a social media post, accused the UDF government of suppressing democratic protests. He claimed that Mr. Sanjeev was struck on the chest during the lathicharge and required hospitalisation, adding that the SFI leader continued to experience breathing difficulty. Mr. Vijayan described the incident as a deliberate attack.

He further criticised the Chief Minister and Home Minister for defending the police action, stating that the government was choosing to crack down on protesters rather than address student demands through dialogue.