Thiruvananthapuram: More evidence of high-handedness by the activists of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) on college campuses in Kerala has come to the fore days after the violence on the campus of the University College here. These activists apparently terrorize college students in a manner tragically similar to Khap panchayats in Haryana.

Akin to Khaps, SFI units have emerged into quasi-judicial bodies that inflict harsh punishments on students for not following their 'orders' or attempting to even remotely sway from the path of the institution.

Voice recording of students being threatened by the leaders for not participating in the outfit's agitations have been accessed by media. One recording clearly suggests that SFI's writ runs in the Government Arts College and students are apparently terrorised to toe its line.

Students are required to take the permission of the SFI unit leaders to go out of the Government Arts College, the voice recording proved.

During the 10-minute recording, students are being reminded that they need to take permission from the SFI unit leaders instead of their respective departments.

The girl students were reportedly chided for leaving for home without taking part in the outfit’s programmes and were threatened that if this was repeated, their studies would be affected.

The SFI leader sounded as if his outfit is into moral policing and acts as guardians on campus. The voice heard in the recording claimed that the principal checks with them in case of any trouble on the campus.

They spoke rudely to the girls.

Excerpts from the conversation

SFI leader: After coming to college on Monday, where did you go?

Girl student: Went home.

Leader: With whose permission did you go home? Weren't you told that there was one programme and we would decide on letting you go after that?

Girl: Asked the teacher.

Leader: Will you leave if the department asks you to? How many times have you checked with the department before going home? Do you take department's permission while going out to take photostat or get papers? Who asked you to leave after checking with the department? When did you start such practices?

Why did you cut the phone call? I only asked why you left the campus without permission? I have the authority to ask that. How many times were you told at the committee that you can only leave only after checking with the unit? Why did you leave after checking with the department? Tell me. The department is not bigger than the unit.

Why are you fiddling with the phone at odd times? No one was asked to take selfies, or listen to music or check WhatsApp. As a girl, you were allowed to attend important calls from your home.

Which celebration did you organise with the department? Didn't we celebrate Christmas? Which teacher came to celebrate... If you are caught in any issue, the department would never stand with you. Even the 'second years' check with us before leaving.

You can go to museum or any other place. If something happens then what will you do? If case of any trouble, parents approach the principal. Do you know who the principal would summon and scold? He would ask us. In colleges that have SFI office-bearers, the question is always directed at the SFI. The secretary would ask us. In case of any issue at the college, it is not he teachers or departments that resolve it. Just because there is an outfit called SFI, each issue gets resolved...