Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 30 The CPI(M) on Friday strongly condemned the alleged attack on SFI cadres in connection with the union election at the Calicut University campus and accused the IUML and police of “failing” to prevent the violence.
It also warned of a strong response if the League leadership failed to rein in the accused.
Addressing a press conference here, CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that activists of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student outfit of the IUML, along with Kerala Students’ Union (KSU) workers, attacked SFI leaders and students with the intention of killing them following their victory in the university students’ union election.
The KSU is the student wing of the Congress.
He alleged that the attack was carried out in the presence of police personnel, who remained mute spectators.
The violence was an expression of resentment over the SFI winning all major seats in the students’ union election despite attempts by the UDF-backed student organisations to defeat it, he claimed.
Govindan said the attackers barged into classrooms and libraries and assaulted students, including women. They also used a gas cutter to remove the SFI flagpole and wielded weapons, including axes, besides damaging several vehicles, he alleged.
He also alleged that the MSF activists continued their attack at a nearby hospital, targeting SFI state joint secretary N Adhil, Malappuram district president M Sujin and other cadres who were visiting injured party workers.
The attackers even entered the casualty department and assaulted them in front of other patients, he said.
Describing the MSF activists as a “criminal gang”, Govindan demanded stringent action against those involved and urged the IUML leadership, including senior leader P K Kunhalikutty, to condemn the violence and take responsibility for reining in its workers.
“The IUML should take a proper stand against this anti-democratic attack. If the League leadership fails to control this criminal gang, the SFI will resist them,” he warned.
He also accused the police and the state government of “shielding” criminals and said that the prevailing situation allowed the children of the wealthy and senior officials to act with impunity while ordinary people were subjected to violence.
He said protests would be held against the police and government over their alleged failure to act against the culprits.
Govindan also showed video footage of the alleged attack during the press conference.
His remarks came a day after police registered a case against 15 MSF activists for allegedly attacking SFI leaders at a hospital in Thenhipalam in Malappuram district in the early hours of Thursday.
The case was registered at the Thenhipalam police station based on a complaint lodged by Adhil, the SFI Malappuram district secretary, police said.
Clashes had broken out between SFI activists and workers of the KSU and MSF on Wednesday evening, during which the Tenhipalam Station House Officer was also injured, police had said.
Two cases were registered in connection with the violence on the university campus during the election, officials had said.
(PTI News)
