Police have registered a case against the SFI state president and several activists for allegedly waylaying Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal’s car and attacking it.

According to the police, the case was filed against Students’ Federation of India (SFI) state president Siva Prasad, district secretary M A Nandan, district president Avinash, district committee members Ashik, Maneesh, Adarsh, Aswin, Adarsh S K, Vaibhav, and other unidentified individuals.

The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when SFI activists held a protest march to the vice-chancellor’s office demanding his ouster. Police said the protesters stopped Kunnummal’s car and struck it with their hands, preventing him from moving forward. The vice-chancellor was blocked inside the vehicle for several minutes until police arrived and dispersed the agitators, officials said.

The Cantonment police registered the case under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Kerala Police Act, and the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Processions Act, following a complaint lodged by the Kerala University Registrar. The SFI, the student organisation affiliated with the CPI(M), has been holding demonstrations seeking Kunnummal’s removal, the appointment of a full-time vice-chancellor, and the convening of a syndicate meeting.