Kannur: Edakkad police have arrested 16 people in connection with the clash between SFI and KSU at the Government Industrial Training Institute, Thottada.

As per the complaint raised by KSU unit president Muhammed Ribin, the police have registered a case against 11 SFI activists under sections 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide),189(2) (unlawful assembly),191(2) (rioting),191(3) (armed with weapon of offence),126(2) (voluntary obstruction of people),351(3) (criminal intimidation),115(2) (voluntarily causes hurt),118(1) and 118(2) (act of causing hurt or grievous hurt using dangerous weapons ),190 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. 

In response to the complaint of SFI activists, 10 KSU activists have been booked under sections 189(2),191(2),191(3),126(2),351(3),118(1),110, and 190 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In a third FIR, the Edakkad Police have suo moto booked 16 people, both of SFI and KSU, as per sections 194(2) of BNS and 117(e) of the Kerala Police Act, 2011 (threatening, obstructing, or assaulting police officers).

A brawl erupted after a group of SFI activists removed a KSU flag on the campus. When KSU activists went to the principal's office to file a complaint about the missing flag, some SFI activists blocked their way. This led to a violent confrontation on campus. The situation quickly escalated into a full-scale altercation, with students brutally manhandling each other. As the situation escalated, police intervened and resorted to a lathi charge.

Manorama News reported that Muhammed Ribin, unit president of KSU, who was assaulted severely, sustained a fracture to his spine. It is alleged that SFI activists stomped on Ribin.

Meanwhile, SFI activists claimed that Ribin plotted the violence on campus and informed the media about it. They also argued that Ribin's not a student but a Youth Congress activist. Several activists from both groups were injured in the clash and admitted to the nearby hospitals.

The district administration has ordered the indefinite closure of the Government Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Thottada following a violent clash between SFI and KSU activists on Wednesday.