SFI Protest at Kerala University Turns Violent Over Festival Funding
A round-the-clock demonstration organized by the Students' Federation of India (SFI) on the Kerala University campus escalated into a violent confrontation on Tuesday. The protest was demanding the immediate release of Rs 50 lakh allocated for conducting the university's youth festival.
Protesters Breach Security and Block Administration
Frustrated by the delay in fund disbursement, the protesters forcefully crossed police barricades and entered restricted administrative areas of the university. They proceeded to block the registrar and other staff members from carrying out their duties, causing significant disruption to office functioning. At the time of the incident, Vice Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal was not present in his office, avoiding direct confrontation.
Police Intervention and Vice Chancellor's Response
Following the developments, Vice Chancellor Kunnummal communicated the volatile situation to the Governor of Kerala. In response, the Governor directed the state police chief to intervene and remove the protesters from the campus premises. After several hours of tense stand-off, police forces successfully cleared the agitators, restoring order.
The vice chancellor has instructed the registrar to file a formal police complaint against those responsible for damaging university property and forcibly entering administrative premises. He emphasized that such actions disrupted the normal functioning of the university and warranted legal action.
University Union Elections and Festival Organization
In a related development, Vice Chancellor Kunnummal directed that university union elections be conducted in February. He maintained that the outgoing union could not be entrusted with organizing the youth festival, as a new committee was due to take charge. He noted that the present union had already conducted a festival in 2025, suggesting a need for fresh leadership for future events.
Additional Complaint Against Syndicate Members
Meanwhile, the University Registrar lodged another complaint against certain syndicate members. The complaint alleges that these members colluded with protesting students during a separate incident earlier this week, when violence was reported in the vice chancellor's chamber. Specifically, it is alleged that two CPM-backed syndicate members encouraged the protesters and obstructed university security staff from performing their duties, exacerbating the situation.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions within Kerala University regarding fund management and student activism, with authorities taking a firm stance against property damage and administrative disruption.
