Clash in Secretariat march: SFI district secretary arrested in blade attack

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: SFI Thiruvananthapuram district secretary has been arrested in connection with the clash that broke out during the Secretariat march organized by SFI to protest against the fee hike in Cape and IHRD. There were allegations that the police were attacked with blade during the clash. District secretary M A Nandan has been arrested. The Cantonment Police has imposed sections including rioting, destruction of public property etc. Three people have been arrested so far in the case.

The FIR says that they tried to cut the rope tied by the police to stop the protests with a blade. The police claim that they have received video footage proving that they were attacked with a blade. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala had stated the other day that strict action will be taken against those who attacked the police.

Meantime, SFI activists allege that the police carried out the attack with a blade. Blades were found from the spot of the clash.

The SFI march started at around 12.30 pm on June 24 from the University College premises. When the activists tried to topple the barricades in front of the protest gate, the police used water cannons. When the activists failed to disperse from there, and tried to topple the barricades again, water cannons were used a second time. A verbal dispute broke out between the activists and the police. The SFI and the police came out with a counter-allegation that they had been attacked with blades. The SFI alleged that around twenty activists were injured in the attack. They also said that girls were also injured in the blade attack.