Malappuram: The Calicut University campus was closed indefinitely following incidents of violence on Saturday. Classes will remain suspended until further notice, and students have been instructed to vacate the hostels. Vice Chancellor Dr P Raveendran said the decision was taken to restore peace and ensure the safety of students.

The clashes broke out on the campus last evening during and after the vote counting for the university union elections. More than 20 people were injured in the violence. Police resorted to a lathi charge to disperse SFI and UDSF activists. The glass doors of the seminar complex were shattered during the melee.

The dispute began after UDSF demanded that ballot papers not signed by the returning officer be excluded from the count, which soon escalated into violence. Over 45 ballot papers were torn and trampled.

Although SFI state secretary P S Sanjeev and other leaders insisted that counting should continue, the Vice Chancellor issued a written order to polling officials stating that counting could not proceed without polling agents. The Registrar, however, maintained that counting should continue. Polling officials clarified that it was not possible to resume counting without adequate security and an official directive.