KSU Violence After Election Defeat; Police Arrest SFI Workers at Midnight

Kayamkulam: Three SFI leaders who were injured in an attack by KSU and Youth Congress workers following the Kerala University students' union election at MSM College, Kayamkulam, have been arrested by the police. The three SFI leaders were arrested late on Friday night, while the KSU workers accused of launching the attack have not been arrested.

Those arrested are SFI district secretariat members Ashiq and Aravind Raj and district committee member Arshad. Police have registered cases against around 50 people. The SFI has demanded that cases also be registered against KSU leaders involved in the violence.

The SFI won all 18 colleges where organisational elections were held in Alappuzha district. At MSM College, the SFI's candidate for the chairperson's post was illegally removed from the race. Despite this, the KSU suffered a defeat by around 300 votes in the other seats, following which the alleged attack took place during an SFI victory procession in Kayamkulam town.

A group of people who had gathered at the Congress office near the private bus stand pelted stones at the procession while police personnel just watched and did nothing. Instead of arresting those responsible for the stone-pelting, police turned against its workers.

When SFI workers attempted to protest, police allegedly assaulted them and resorted to a lathi charge, injuring several activists.

SFI workers Muhammad Ali and Vaishnavi suffered serious injuries in the stone-pelting. Ali sustained injuries to his hand and jaw, while Vaishnavi was injured on her head. Both were admitted to Kayamkulam Taluk Hospital.