Students protest at closing venue of State school sports meet, block minister V Sivankutty; clash erupts between police and students

KOCHI: The closing ceremony of the Kerala School Sports Meet witnessed dramatic scenes as a clash erupted between the police and the students after a group of students protested against the decision to consider sports schools for the championship title. It was the students from the Nava Mukunda school and the Mar Basil school that protested against the action of awarding second prize to GV Raja School, Thiruvananthapuram. Following this, the ceremony was cut short.

Minister V Sivankutty was present at the venue during the closing ceremony. As the ceremony proceeded, a group of students blocked the minister and staged a protest in front of him. Following this, the police intervened and escorted the minister out of the stage. Sports minister V Abdurahiman was also moved to safety.

Kadakassery Ideal EHSS emerged first in the school category with 80 points. Thiruvavaya Nava Mukunda HSS (44 points) and Kothamangalam Mar Basil (43 points) are in the second and third positions in the points table on the official site. However, GV Raja Sports School was controversially awarded second place instead. Following this, several students, teachers and parents staged a huge protest at the closing venue.