Thiruvananthapuram: The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) organized a protest march at the Secretariat today, calling for the arrest of former SFI leader K Vidya over alleged fabrication of an experience certificate from Maharajas College, Ernakulam. The march also demanded the resignation of State Higher Education Minister R Bindhu, accusing the LDF of promoting nepotism within Kerala’s universities.
However, the peaceful demonstration took a chaotic turn when the police resorted to a brutal lathi charge, resulting in injuries to several ABVP activists and even affecting journalists present at the scene. Janam TV cameraman Nitin sustained a right hand injury during the police’s actions.
NCT Sreehari, the ABVP State Secretary, expressed concerns about favoritism and malpractices within Kerala’s universities, particularly involving individuals affiliated with the LDF occupying key positions. The march began peacefully from the martyrs’ column at Palayam around noon on Friday, but tensions escalated when the police used force to disperse the protesters.
Numerous ABVP activists suffered injuries due to the police’s aggressive response. The lathi charge and water cannons employed by the Kerala Police led to chaos and the blockade of Trivandrum MG Road, leaving vehicles stranded for hours.
ABVP activists have also raised serious allegations of misconduct, claiming that male police officers attempted to molest female activists, citing a lack of sufficient female police personnel at the scene.
Notably, the ABVP State Joint Secretaries Arvind and Kalyani Chandran, along with State Working Committee members Arun and Vishnu, took charge of leading the march.
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