THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As the police-SFI clashes continued in the state capital in the aftermath of Wednesday’s violence at the Kerala University hostel, the Cantonment police on Sunday raided SFI district secretary Nandan’s residence. The development happened in the morning following a DYFI march to the police station against Circle Inspector Satish Kumar.
“Given the recent developments, including the threats issued against Nandan by SI G Gokul, DYFI organised a protest march to the CI’s residence. The raid was in retaliation against the march,” alleged Vijay Vimal, the Thiruvananthapuram SFI district president.
“We still don’t know why the police are targeting Nandan. He was neither part of the issues and violence on Wednesday nor did the police register an FIR against him,” he added. The raid, under the leadership of Satish Kumar, was carried out when only Nandan’s mother, Ambily, was present at his residence in Kallumoodu. She alleged that the police threatened the mother-son duo.
“My son has not committed any crime. The police said they would arrest him. He is a leader fighting for the students,” she told reporters.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said no one, including elected representatives and police officers, should issue threats.
“V Joy is an MLA. On what basis did he say that the police would be killed? No matter who makes such statements, whether an MLA or an SI, they are unacceptable. We had also organised protests against the same police in the past 10 years. But we did not make such remarks,” Chennithala said.
The minister said he was not justifying the actions of any police official and stressed that no one should threaten the police either.
Following an alleged phone call by SI Gokul to Nandan, threatening to arrest him, ADGP P Vijayan had on Saturday ordered an enquiry into the case.
The students’ union will file a complaint with the DGP on Monday regarding the issue, the SFI district president said.