Thiruvananthapuram | The CPI(M) and Congress leaders on Thursday traded charges over the violence at the Kerala University hostel at Palayam in the state capital.
Major violence was reported after KSU/Youth Congress activists took out a protest march against the Union government and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar here on Wednesday.
A clash erupted when the protest march reached near the university hostel, police said.
Youth Congress/KSU activists alleged that stones and beer bottles were pelted at the march from the hostel, officials said.
On the other hand, SFI/DYFI activists alleged that protesters threw flaming torches towards the hostel inmates, police said.
Police have registered two separate cases against activists of student and youth organisations of both parties.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan on Thursday alleged that the violence was part of a deliberate conspiracy involving ministers, MLAs and top leaders to protect Chief Minister V D Satheesan and prevent certain issues concerning the government from coming to light.
"What we saw there was the picture of students being beaten up brutally," he told reporters.
Describing the incident as an example of "fascist aggression", Govindan alleged that two police personnel, including a Circle Inspector and a Sub-Inspector, joined hands to attack students.
"We all saw the footage of them hitting students on the head. It was horrifying, and the students were unable to withstand it because they were retreating," he said.
He demanded strict action against the police officers who allegedly entered the university hostel and attacked students without provocation.
Sport Minister and Youth Congress state president O J Janeesh questioned the involvement of SFI and DYFI in the protest, saying the agitation was directed against the Chief Election Commissioner, the Union government, Amit Shah and the BJP.
"What was the need for DYFI to get agitated? There was no need or circumstance at all," he told reporters.
He alleged that the clash occurred when protesters were returning after the march and questioned why SFI and DYFI were being drawn into a Youth Congress agitation against the BJP.
State Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh also questioned the SFI activists' response to the protest, saying there was no reason for them to get agitated over a march against the Chief Election Commissioner.
"When a march is passing by shouting slogans against Gyanesh Kumar, why are SFI members coming out to throw stones at it? Is Gyanesh Kumar their uncle?" he asked.
Vishnunadh alleged that stones were pelted at the march from the university hostel, triggering the clash.
He said protests involving black flags and slogans against ministers by BJP's Yuva Morcha were also taking place, and questioned why the Youth Congress march was targeted when its slogans were not directed against SFI or its leaders.
"Whether from the university hostel or the University College, there was no need to throw stones at the march. The clash broke out because stones were thrown like that," he told reporters.
He also said that clashes in front of University College were not a new phenomenon and questioned why such incidents repeatedly occurred at the location.
CPI leaders on Thursday morning visited the university hostel and spoke to injured students.
CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam told reporters that the police had turned the area into a battlefield and demanded an explanation from the Chief Minister.
"For whom? For what purpose? The Chief Minister must certainly clarify this. This is the police policy of the government," he said.
He alleged that the attack on students was an attempt to hide the alleged Congress-BJP relations in the state.
"The Chief Minister may have many things to hide. Mostly, there are political ties with the BJP there. When Congress is taking out a protest against the BJP place, SFI students are being attacked," he said.
