Thiruvananthapuram, 01 October (H.S.): Museum police have registered two cases under non-bailable provisions against Youth Congress and Students’ Federation of India (SFI) workers following clashes in the capital on Wednesday night. The cases name people who can be identified by sight.

The violence erupted outside the University Men’s Hostel at Palayam during a Youth Congress march demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. An argument between workers of the two organisations escalated into a physical confrontation, prompting police intervention.

Youth Congress alleged that SFI workers threw stones at the march. SFI, however, accused Youth Congress activists of attacking its members without provocation and unleashing violence against the hostel.

Several people, including police personnel, sustained injuries. Injured activists were taken to hospital. SFI state secretary P.S. Sanjeev was also injured in the police baton charge.

Police entered the hostel premises, used batons and lobbed grenades as the confrontation intensified. Students alleged that officers who entered the compound ostensibly to resolve the dispute charged at SFI workers without provocation. They said three students suffered serious head injuries in the baton charge.

Following the alleged stone pelting, Youth Congress workers damaged SFI banners and flag decorations outside University College and the hostel. An SFI flag was also set ablaze during the unrest.

A separate confrontation between police and Youth Congress workers led to further grenade use as officers attempted to bring the situation under control.

Protesting what it described as violence by police and Youth Congress activists, SFI called for a statewide class boycott on Thursday. It also announced protest marches to the Secretariat and the offices of district police chiefs.

The organisations offered sharply conflicting accounts of how the violence began, with Youth Congress blaming stone pelting and SFI maintaining that its workers and the hostel were attacked during the march.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman