ALAPPUZHA: A march taken out by SFI activists to Sri Vellappally Natesan College of Engineering, Kattachira, turned violent on Monday as they went on a rampage vandalising the office and classrooms.
The march was organised in protest against the suicide attempt of an engineering student in the college hostel on Saturday. Windowpanes and equipment in the office rooms were destroyed by the agitators. They entered the office after forcefully removing the barricade put up by the police near the college gate.
Action against officers
District police chief V M Muhammed Rafeeq suspended Vallikunnam station ASI Satheesh Kumar and transferred civil police officer Ratheesh, who were part of the investigation team.
The police officers had gone to Kayamkulam Taluk Hospital for recording the statement of the student in a car owned by college trust general secretary Subhash Vasu, an SNDP Yogam leader.
Aarsh Raj, 20, a second year BTech student of the college, tried to commit suicide after allegedly being scolded by the principal following his complaint about the food served in the hostel.
On Sunday, SFI and DYFI activists had staged a march to the college and destroyed windowpanes.
Monday’s march was led by SFI state general secretary M Vijil and state president Jaik C Thomas. SFI activists and police personnel were injured in the melee.
Chengannur DySP Sivasuthan Pillai said five police officers, including the sub-inspectors of Vallikunnam and Mannar, were injured in the attack.
SFI district president James Samuel said the activists entered the college premises after the ‘college goons’ pelted stones at them. Four SFI workers, including M Vijil and state committee member and university union chairperson S Ashitha and two other area committee members, were also injured in the attack. We will intensify our agitation till the principal and hostel warden are removed from their posts. The college authorities should end their ‘goonda raj’ in the college, he said.
Mavelikkara Circle Inspector P Sreekumar said they have registered a case against Sree Gurudeva Charitable and Educational Trust general secretary Subash Vasu and college principal H Ganesan based on the complaint of Aarsh.