Members of the Students Federation of India take out a victory celebration after the Kerala University union election results were declared in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
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The Thiruvananthapuram City police have registered cases against five activists each from the Students Federation of India (SFI) and the Kerala Students Union (KSU), along with 200 identifiable persons, in connection with a violent confrontation that erupted in the State capital on Thursday.
The Cantonment police have charged the accused under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 189(2) and 190 (unlawful assembly), 191(2) (rioting), and 285 (causing danger, obstruction or injury to any person in a public way or public line of navigation). Relevant sections of the Kerala Police Act, 2011, were also invoked for offences such as non-compliance with lawful police directives and creating nuisance through noise.
Heightened security remained in place on Friday on Kerala University’s Senate House campus in Palayam, where the rival student groups had clashed during the vote counting for the university Senate and union elections.
Official sources said that seven KSU and five SFI members were hospitalised due to injuries sustained during the clash. Rocks were allegedly hurled by both groups, prompting the police to resort to a lathi-charge to restore order. The SFI staged a protest outside the Secretariat on Friday, condemning the alleged attack by KSU members and accusing the police of using excessive force.
In the wake of the incident, Kerala University Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) Mohanan Kunnummal has sought a detailed report from Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar. The university, however, reported no damage to its premises. With no concrete evidence linking the students directly to the violence, disciplinary action is unlikely, sources indicated.
The SFI retained its dominance in the university union elections, winning six of the seven general seats. Ashwin S. Nair (University College, Thiruvananthapuram) was elected chairperson, while Govind A.V. (Millath College of Teacher Education, Sooranad) became the general secretary. Abhijith Raj (SN College, Chathannoor) and Arun A. (TKM College, Kollam) were elected vice-chairpersons. Muhammed Kareem (College of Applied Science, Dhanuvachapuram) and Gatha B. Rajesh (BJM Government College, Chavara) were elected as joint secretaries.
A notable outcome for KSU was the election of Amina Brosh (SN College, Varkala) as vice chairperson — its first general seat victory in 13 years, sparking celebration in the KSU camp.
In the Senate elections, SFI secured six seats, while KSU won three. The Muslim Students Federation (MSF) also made history by winning a Senate seat for the first time. The result for one seat remains pending.
The university union for 2023–24 is yet to assume office due to allegations of electoral malpractice, which led the Vice-Chancellor to stall the swearing-in ceremony. The Kerala High Court later ordered fresh elections, culminating in Thursday’s poll.
Published – April 11, 2025 08:17 pm IST