Student politics touched a new low on Tuesday when a group of KSU activists barged into the office of the Director of Higher Secondary Education here and poured black oil on him, protesting the recent hike in fees for higher secondary courses.
At around 1.45 p.m., eight KSU activists barged into HSE Director Kesavendra Kumar’s office, located on the first floor of Housing Board building. As it was lunch break, there were not many staff members present in their seats. “The KSU activists said they want a rollback of the fee hike. I tried to convince them that the government has taken a decision to reduce some of the fees,’’ Kesavendra Kumar told Express.
The HSE Director said KSU activists did not pay any heed to his attempts to pacify them. “Soon, one of the activists pulled out a can of black oil from a bag and poured it over me while the others shouted slogans and waved the KSU flag,’’ he said. “All this happened in a span of less than 10 minutes. Only my PA and peon were there in office at that time,’’ he said.
Thampanoor police arrested the eight KSU activists and charged them with destruction of government property and obstructing a public servant from carrying out his official duties.
Distancing itself from the protest, the KSU state leadership soon expelled the activist. KSU state president V S Joy said such protest did not have the endorsement of the leadership of the organisation.