Massive clashes in Kerala Varsity Senate elections; Registrar rescued in police jeep; Vice-Chancellor cancels election

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The election for 10 student representatives to the Senate of the University of Kerala has resulted in a major clash. Around 500 students, who were camping at the varsity headquarters, broke open the door of the Senate Hall at around 8.30 pm last night and entered the premises. Around 200 policemen deployed for security could not stop the SFI and KSU activists who stormed into the Senate hall shouting provocative slogans.

Several students, varsity staff and policemen were injured in the clash. Media persons were also attacked. Registrar Dr KS Anil Kumar, who was stuck in the middle of the clash, was rescued in a police jeep and brought out. Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mohanan Kunnummal said the election to the Senate had been cancelled due to the clash. In the Senate elections, 163 candidates represented the colleges and had the right to vote. The voting was peaceful. The problems started with the counting of votes in the evening. The problem started over technical reasons in the representational voting. The dispute escalated after KSU won two seats.

The SFI activists protested alleging that KSU had won with the help of the registrar. The registrar stopped the counting of votes after 16 ballots went missing. SFI activists, who were outside the varsity, barged into the Senate Hall. They clashed in the Senate Hall after both sides alleged that ballot papers had been destroyed. The activists clashed with sticks and pieces of wood. The chairs in the Senate Hall were smashed. Attempts were made to arrest and remove KSU activists but without success. More police arrived and forcibly removed both the activists. SFI activists stopped the police vehicle. SFI activists burst crackers near the KSU activists when they were talking to the media.

The clash spread outside the varsity around 10.30 pm. A clash broke out between Youth Congress and SFI activists at the gate of the varsity. More police have been deployed across the city.