KOTTAYAM: In the wake of complaints against the Toms College of Engineering at Mattakkara in Kottayam, APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) registrar Dr G P Padmakumar visited the campus on Friday on a day when various students’ union protests turned violent. Even as Dr Padmakumar collected evidence from students, teachers and non-teaching staff members, student activists vandalised the college property and clashed with the police. The registrar was visiting on the basis of complaints filed by some students and parents to the Chief Minister and Education Minister, that students were tortured mentally and physically at this college.
During the visit, various students’ organisations took out marches to the college alleging that management authorities had locked up first-year students in a hostel room to prevent them from giving their statements to the registrar. Marches led by ABVP, KS U and SFI turned violent and activists broke window panes and smashed up other material on the campus. They also pelted the police and the college building with stones and eggs. The violence began at 10.30 am when the university registrar came to the campus.
ABVP activists began the series of protest marches and stone-pelting activity, followed by SFI activists . The SFI disrupted classes and claimed to have released the students, who were “locked up”. A few students were injured in the clash. In the afternoon, KSU activists organised a march, demanding the arrest of Tom T Joseph, chairman of the institution.
Meanwhile, registrar Padmakumar spoke to parents, students, and representatives of the college management. The chairman of the institution was not in the college during the visit. Padmakumar told reporters the complaints against the college were highly serious in nature. “We will conduct a detailed inquiry into the allegations cited in the complaints,” he said. State Youth Welfare Commission chairperson Chintha Jerome also visited the college.