Tensions run high after student stabbed at Kerala Univ campus

Campus violence in Kerala raised its ugly head on Friday after a student was stabbed inside Thiruvananthapuram University College campus.

According to sources, Akhil, a third year BA political science student was allegedly thrashed and then stabbed by members of the Student Federation of India (SFI), the student’s wing of the CPI(M). Incidentally, Akhil also belongs to the SFI.

Akhil, who sustained injuries in the attack was taken to the general hospital. He was later referred to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College after the first aid was provided to him.

Students later took to the streets and squatted on the road in front of the University gate and raised slogans demanding justice. They later marched towards the State Secretariat demanding that the SFI unit in the campus to be disbanded.

Speaking to Malayalam television channels, V P Sanu, all India president of the SFI, said that the SFI university college unit will be dismissed. More action will be taken after analysing the incident and situation.

On July 1 last year, Ernakulam Maharaja’s college came to national spotlight when a student, Abhimanyu, 20, was murdered within the college premises after a row over political posters turned violent. Even though the college is known for its fervent campus politics, this was the first time in its history that a person was killed on campus.

The issue had also reached the Kerala High Court, which had observed that the State government had failed to adhere to its commitments made earlier to the courts on reining in politics and violence on college campuses.

A Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice AK Jayasankaran Nambiar observed in a July 17, 2018 order, that it could not afford to lose any more life in the name of campus politics. It was very sad that the incident happened in a government college.