Kannur ITI clash: KSU march seeking arrest of SFI activists turns violent, police use water canons against protesters

KSU protest in Kerala against SFI clash ends in clashes, police use water cannons, KSU vows to continue protests.

A march led by the Kerala Students Union (KSU) State committee calling for the arrest of all Students Federation of India (SFI) members involved in the recent clash at Government ITI at Thottada in Kannur, Kerala, and withdrawal of cases against KSU activists ended in clashes on Monday (December 16, 2024). The police used water cannons thrice to disperse the activists, resulting in a scuffle between the two sides.

The protest, which began around 12:30 p.m. from the stadium corner, was halted by the police near the Commissioner’s office in Kannur.

The march was inaugurated by KSU State president Aloysius Xavier, who criticised SFI, accusing them of “transforming into a recruiting agency that cultivates criminal gangs.”

“SFI’s single organisation approach on campuses and assaulting those against them in the union rooms is doomed to fail and it will not continue,” he said, adding that KSU will continue their protests to establish a “democratic system on campuses.”

Joined by several KSU workers, the protest march was led by KSU State vice presidents Ann Sebastian and Muhammad Shammas.