Student Stabbed in Thiruvananthapuram College After Group Led by SFI Leader Objects to Singing

Thiruvananthapuram: A clash between two groups of students at University College in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday took a violent turn when an undergraduate student was stabbed.

The victim has been identified as Akhil Chandran, a third-year BA political science student, who was rushed to the Trivandrum medical college hospital.

Hospital sources said he would have to undergo surgery due to internal bleeding, but that his condition was stable. Three other students were also injured in the attack.

The incident took place when Chandran and few other students were singing under the shade of a tree. A group of Students’ Federation of India (SFI) members reportedly asked them to get inside the classroom. This led to an altercation and the two groups came to blows. Students accused the SFI members of thrashing and then stabbing Chandran, who is also an active member of the body.

As soon as news of the incident spread, a large group of students marched towards the Secretariat building demanding action against the culprits. A police case has been registered against six members of the SFI, including Nazeem, former secretary of the party.

"We have also registered a case against around 20 unidentified students in connection with the incident," an investigating officer said.

"We have searched the campus for the accused, but they were not there. We will conduct further searches at various other places tonight," said another police officer.

The incident was sequel to a dispute between two groups of students belonging to the pro-CPI(M) students wing.

VP Sanu, SFI's All-India president, assured action against the erring workers, adding that the unit will be disbanded if the activists are found guilty.

However, SFI state secretary Sachin Dev dismissed the incident as "personal issue".

"The police must take stern action. If any SFI worker is found involved in the incident, they will be dismissed from the party,” he said.

The college was recently in news after a student attempted suicide inside the campus and accused the SFI of disturbing the environment of the campus. She was later transferred to another institute.

'Attack exposes SFI's terror face'

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala lashed out at the students wing of the CPI(M) and said the latest attack on the student showed the "terror face" of SFI.

"The SFI, which never allows any other student organisation to work inside the University College, has now turned towards its own workers. This exposes the fascist attitude of SFI," he said in a release.

The Left government has asked the Education Department to submit a report on the issue.

Meanwhile, BJP state President P S Sreedharan Pillai also attacked the ruling CPI(M) and its student organisation and said no action has taken against such attacks, despite complaints by students.

University College, Thiruvananthapuram is one of the oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher education in India, established in 1866 to impart English education to the common folk of erstwhile Travancore by Sri Ayilyam Thirunal Rama Varma Maharaja.

(With inputs from PTI)