Kerala University: SFI Protest Leads to Police Case and Detentions

A legal case has been filed against 27 SFI activists, including their state secretary, following a protest at Kerala University. They face charges of damaging public property, unlawful entry, and assaulting police and university personnel. The police have also identified approximately 1,000 other protesters in the case and have invoked non-bailable charges. The protest, which involved breaking through the university gate, was aimed at Governor Rajendra Arlekar, with the SFI alleging a move toward ‘saffronisation’ of the university. The demonstrators clashed with police, who subsequently detained the activists. The protest also stemmed from the SFI’s objections to the use of a ‘Bharat Mata’ image in a university event and the suspension of the Vice Chancellor, Mohanan Kunnummal, and the appointment of Dr. Ciza Thomas as the Vice Chancellor-in-Charge.