Mithun's electrocution death: KSU calls for statewide education bandh on Friday, will conduct protest march to school

KOLLAM: The Kerala Students Union (KSU) has intensified its agitation in protest against the tragic electrocution death of Mithun, an eighth-grade student at Thevalakkara Boys High School. The organisation has called for a statewide education bandh in schools on Friday. This was announced by KSU State President Aloshious Xavier.

A protest march to the school will be held under the leadership of the KSU Kollam District Committee, and protest events will be organised in various constituencies by local committees.

Lashing out at the government, Aloshious Xavier stated that such incidents reflect the lack of proper attention given to the public education sector. He criticised that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is attempting to build a "New Kerala" by treating the lives of young children as worthless.

He held the school authorities, the education department, and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) equally responsible for the incident, stressing that no one should be allowed to escape accountability by blaming each other.

"Former students of the school have pointed out that the electric line had been dangerously close to the school building for years, and no steps had been taken to relocate it despite repeated concerns," he said.

"While KSEB claimed the school management had not submitted any official request, the school authorities are claiming that they had previously informed the KSEB about the issue. No one should be allowed to escape responsibility by blaming each other. Necessary steps must be taken to prevent such unfortunate incidents from recurring. Safety inspections should be conducted in schools across the state at regular intervals," Aloshious Xavier added.