Kasaragod: While colleges across Kerala debated whether to observe Partition Horrors Remembrance Day on campus, the RSS-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) marked the occasion at the stroke of midnight at the Central University of Kerala (CUK) in Kasaragod.

At 12.30 am on Thursday, ABVP activists lit torches, held placards and posters depicting the violence and killings that accompanied the Partition of India. "We organised a student gathering at midnight. The posters we carried were later displayed on campus walls," said Abhinav K P, ABVP CUK unit president.

Asked why the event was held at midnight, Abhinav said it was a direct challenge to the CPM's Students' Federation of India (SFI). "SFI's state secretary had declared that Partition Horrors Remembrance Day would not be allowed on any campus in Kerala. Our state secretary, E U Eswaraprasad, responded that the ABVP would organise events across the state. We decided to begin the day in CUK, so we held it at 12.30 am," he said.
By Thursday morning, ABVP units had also organised events in Kasaragod Government College, Govinda Pai Memorial Government College, Manjeshwar, IHRD College, Kumbla, and Beja Model College of Arts & Science in Belloor grama panchayat. "We will be holding more events in other colleges," Abhinav said.

Meanwhile, members of the UDF-affiliated Kerala Private College Teachers' Association (KPCTA) marked the day with protests across the state. KPCTA members wore black badges reading 'Boycott Remembrance Day' pinned to their chests as part of the protest.