Thiruvananthapuram: As the spotlight is on the University College and its violent student politics, a shocking video that has appeared hours ago shows a student who was stabbed on the campus recently by an activist of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) being forced to walk around there soon after the attack on him.
Top leaders of the SFI unit at this college in the heart of Kerala's capital is in the dock over the stabbing of Akhil Chandran, a final-year degree student associated with the same students' outfit affiliated to Kerala's ruling party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or the CPM.
The video shows even though Akhil was injured in the assault at the campus on July 12, no effort was made by his peers or college authorities to take him immediately to the hospital; instead he was paraded by a mob of students, including SFI leaders.
The video shows a group of students, including Akhil, walking on the campus. The images could play a crucial role in the stabbing case which has been registered as an attempt to murder.
Akhil was allegedly stabbed by SFI unit president R Shivarenjith as another leader, A N Naseem, held on to him.
The police have arrested six accused, including Shivarenjith and Naseem. Though the police said more arrests would be made, they have not been able to nab anyone else so far. The cops also said that a second lookout notice with the photos of more suspects would be issued, but no move has been made for that too.
Shivarenjith is the accused number one and Naseem, the second accused in the case.
Earlier, the knife with which Akhil was stabbed was recovered from the campus when the duo was taken there for evidence-gathering
Forensic tests
Meanwhile, the probe into the exam malpractices by the accused SFI leaders are on. The investigators have decided to send the answer sheets of Shivarenjith for forensic examination. This is to ascertain that Shivarenjith himself had written the exams.
Soon after the stabbing incident, a set of answer sheets of Kerala University was found at Shivarenjith's house during a police raid.
As part of this probe too,, Shivarenjith was taken to the University College for evidence-gathering. The police stated that Shivarenjith has already confessed about stealing the answer sheets from the college.
Cops being pressured
Seven police personnel, including an ASI, who were put on security duty at the campus were withdrawn after altercations with SFI leaders during the recent violence. Though the cops had to leave the campus by Friday morning, they were still on guard outside the college entrance even yesterday.
The SFI leaders had reportedly threatened and verbally abused cops who were standing guard near the SFI unit office on the campus. They even threw out the baton and shields of the cops. It was also alleged they misbehaved with girl students.
When the principal tried to intervene in the issue, he also ended up being at the receiving end of their ire. Then the higher-ups in the police force asked the cops to leave.
However, Police Commissioner Dinendra Kashyap said that he had not received any complaint stating that girl students were troubled. But when asked about the cops being taken off the duty from the campus, the officer refused to comment as it concerned security issues.
SFI irked
It is said a cornered SPI is irked as it has lost its freedom amid the security cover post the recent row. After the college reopened post the stabbing incident, other student outfits have started recruiting members from the campus. Due to the police presence at the campus, no move could be made to stop this, upsetting the SFI.
Though the college was given off by Friday afternoon, SFI leaders are still on campus. When the college reopens on Monday, attempts could be made to reclaim the SFI unit office which could be converted into a classroom.
After the stabbing incident of July 12, the SFI unit committee at the college was disbanded. Subsequently, the SFI had set up an ad-hoc committee on July 17. This panel includes stab victim Akhil.
The district and state leadership of the SFI have reportedly asked the ad-hoc committee to set up a permanent unit of the outfit within a month.
