On July 2 night, a protest by some Congress workers led by MLAs M. Vincent and Chandy Oommen took place at Sreekariyam police station in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala demanding arrest of those. Who allegedly attacked San Jose, the district general secretary of KSU. Thiruvananthapuram, by Students’ Federation of India (SFI) members. A group of SFI workers also went there leading to stand-off during which Mr. Vincent was manhandled.
Around two hours after senior police officials arrived at the station and said that they will strictly deal with both assault cases, the tension abated.
Sreekaryam police were registered a case on SFI activists Nandan, Ajinth, Niranjan and others 20 identifiable as per Sections 189 (2), 191 (2), 192 & 190 of Bharathiya Nyaya Sanhitha (BNS) pertaining to unlawful assembly and rioting.
Other another case has been registered against Mr. Vincent, Mr. Oommen and twenty Youth Congress and KSU activists based on a complaint lodged by senior CPO Santosh who is alleged to have been injured in stone pelting caused by Congress workers Section 189 (2), 191 (1), 191 (2), 121 (1) & 190. Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) are applicable here relating to unlawful assembly. Rioting and voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty.
According to the police, around midnight that day, shots were fired outside the police station. Where members of congress including. Oommen protested so that SFI should be arrested over allegations against them for assaulting Karyavattom University student Jose.
The incident occurred on campus. A group of SFI workers too reached there soon after which both sides started shouting slogans against each other. Mr. Vincent was allegedly manhandled by SFI workers when he reached the station.
According to the second FIR, police had pushed back the SFI workers from the scene in a bid to control them and this then led to Congress workers indulging in stone-pelting resulting in wounds on a policeman.
The tension eased around two hours later after senior police officials arrived at the station and gave assurance that strict action will be taken in both the alleged cases of assault.
Leader of opposition condemns incident
Condemning the incident, Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said in a statement on July 3 that while J.S. Sidharthan, a student of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Pookode in Wayanad died. Still it has not quenched “bloodlust” of SFI.
“The presence of policemen did not deter SFI activists from thrashing an MLA of Congress party. It is evident that even police are siding with culprits as they have registered case against congress MLAs and workers too. If government continues placing hoodlums within academic areas, Congress will strongly oppose,” he added.
