SFI, KSU activists clash at Maharaja’s College campus

Ernakulam Central Circle Inspector Y.Nizamudeen said SFI activist Balu and KSU activist Habeeb Rahman were injured and had been admitted to hospitals in the city. According to KSU workers, one of their activists, Jeris too was injured in the violence.

The police officer said cases had been registered against Balu and Habeeb for attempt to murder, under Section 304, IPC. According to KSU activists, the condition of Habeeb who was admitted to a private hospital, is serious. The other two are in the general hospital.

According to police, to avenge the attack on KSU activist Habeeb on Tuesday, Balu was attacked by KSU activists on Thursday causing injuries to his stomach and chest. In retaliation, SFI activists attacked Habeeb and wounded him. Following the incident, a strong posse of police was deployed at the college and also at the general hospital where the injured were first admitted as students and CPM workers gathered at the hospital.

Both SFI and KSU leaders, who blamed each other for the violence, have lodged complaints with the police who have launched an investigation. Aneesh M.Mathew, member of SFI State Secretariat, alleged that the police was acting in a partisan manner. He said Habeeb, even before he was discharged from hospital after he was injured on Tuesday, had come back to Maharaja's to lead the violence.

On the other hand, KSU district president Titto Antony said SFI workers had attacked them with iron rods when they were proceeding to lodge a complaint with the principal against the violence unleashed by the SFI in the past few days.