KOCHI: A day after an SFI leader was stabbed to death at the Maharaja’s College here, the police are suspecting the involvement of criminal elements from outside ‘hired’ by Campus Front, Islamic outfit Popular Front of India’s student wing.
Second-year BSc Environmental Chemistry student Abhimanyu lost his life in the early hours of Monday after a clash over a graffiti between the workers of the SFI and Campus Front.
Though the 20-year-old was taken to the nearby Ernakulam General Hospital (GH), he breathed his last soon after.
A native of Vattavada in Idukki, Abhimanyu was the SFI’s district committee member. The Ernakulam Central Police have taken into custody three Campus Front sympathisers --- Bilal (from Kottayam), Farook (Pathanamthitta) and Riyas (Fort Kochi).
The condition of SFI member and BA Philosophy student Arjun, 19, who is under treatment at a private hospital after sustaining serious stab injuries, remains critical. Vineeth, another student, is getting medical care at the Ernakulam GH.
Police are suspecting the involvement of criminal elements from outside. “A group of 10-15 members was behind the attack,” said Ernakulam Central CI A Ananthalal. “Of the three in custody, only one is a student of Maharaja’s. While another is a fresher at the college, where the classes were scheduled to commence on Monday, the third person is from outside the campus. The hunt for the remaining suspects is on.”
According to the police, Mohammed, a Maharaja’s student and leader of Campus Front, is the kingpin and is absconding. A native of Mulavukadu in Kochi, Mohamed brought others from Aluva and outside the district to the campus.
BRUTAL ACT
■ Second-year BSc student Abhimanyu lost his life in the early hours of Monday
■ Campus Front sympathisers — Bilal, Farook and Riyas — arrested by the police
■ An argument over graffiti on the walls booked by the SFI resulted in the clash
■ Body handed over to parents; College authorities suspend regular classes for two days