College Frowns on Hug Protest, 10 Suspended

KOCHI: Ten students, who had launched an “Hug of Love" initiative to protest against moral policing, have been suspended by a college here.          

The protest was organised by students of the Maharaja College against the attack on Downtown Hotel at Kozhikode and to express solidarity with the "Kiss of Love" initiative which was to be held on November 2 at the Marine Drive ground here.   

 Around 1 PM yesterday, a small group of students gathered at the college and organised the protest despite college authorities warning them against such a move.     College Principal T V Francy said no prior permission had been taken for conducting such an event and the 10 students had been suspended for 10 days.     

The "Kiss of Love" protest, which created a huge 'hype ‘due to media attention, could not be held as the organizers and sympathisers, numbering around 30, were taking into custody by police even before the protest began.