Capital turns into a battleground; stones thrown at Youth Congress march, police enter University Hostel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A major clash broke out in front of the University Hostel at Palayam during the Youth Congress march to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram. Youth Congress alleged that stones were thrown at the marchers in front of the hostel. The march was led by Minister O.J. Janeesh and MP Shafi Parambil.

The incident took place after Youth Congress workers burnt tyres on the road as part of their protest. Students inside the hostel hooted, after which the Youth Congress alleged that SFI workers threw beer bottles and stones at the protesters. Police entered the University Hostel and used batons against SFI workers. Several students were injured.

The hostel students, however, alleged that Youth Congress workers provoked the situation. They said the students had only raised slogans from inside the hostel during the power cut and that Youth Congress workers threw beer bottles and flaming torches at the hostel as the march passed by.

Police also used batons against Youth Congress workers outside the hostel. During the clash, protesters set an SFI flag on fire. Several people, including police personnel, were injured in the violence. The injured protesters were taken to hospital in ambulances. The clash comes amid heightened political tensions in Thiruvananthapuram following a series of protests and confrontations between Youth Congress and BJP-Yuva Morcha workers.