Archive · 3 Sep 2026
SFI Secretariat March Turns Tense Over Kerala University Police Action
The Students' Federation of India, or SFI, held protests in Kerala.
The group said police hurt students during an earlier protest at the University of Kerala.
SFI named Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji as two leaders who were injured and taken to a hospital.
It then marched to the Keralam Secretariat to demand an investigation and action against the police.
The earlier university protest was connected to a programme where “Vande Mataram” was sung in full.
SFI said the programme reflected an RSS agenda.
Another SFI march in Palakkad also became tense, and police used water cannons.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala gave a different account, saying police used water cannons only after protesters confronted and attacked police personnel.
The Students' Federation of India marched to the Keralam Secretariat on Wednesday over alleged police action against student leaders at the University of Kerala.
SFI alleged that police used excessive force, including against women students, and that Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji were injured and hospitalised.
The dispute followed an SFI demonstration during a Kerala University programme where “Vande Mataram” was sung in full.
Police used water cannons and what PTI described as minor force during the Secretariat-related protests, while SFI alleged several students were injured in a lathi charge.
A separate SFI march in Palakkad also faced water cannons, while Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said police acted only after protesters confronted and attacked officers.
- Who
- The Students' Federation of India, student leaders Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji, Kerala police, and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.
- What
- SFI held protests over alleged police assaults during a University of Kerala demonstration, while the government defended the police response.
- When
- The Secretariat march took place on Wednesday, September 2, after clashes during a demonstration on Tuesday.
- Where
- The protests occurred at the University of Kerala and the Keralam Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, with another march toward the Palakkad Superintendent of Police's office.
- Why
- SFI was protesting alleged police assaults on students and objecting to a Kerala University programme it said reflected an RSS agenda.
SFI's Allegations
Government's Defense
Police use of force
SFI's Allegations
SFI alleged that police brutally assaulted activists, including women students, and that Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji suffered head and facial injuries.
Government's Defense
Ramesh Chennithala said police used water cannons only after protesters confronted and attacked police personnel. PTI described the response as involving water cannons and minor force.
Cause of the university protest
SFI's Allegations
SFI said the Kerala University programme, including singing “Vande Mataram” in full, was conducted in accordance with an RSS agenda and protested what it described as the saffronisation of universities.
Government's Defense
Chennithala questioned the protests and said he did not understand which student demand had been denied.
Reason for broader agitation
SFI's Allegations
SFI demanded an investigation and action against police personnel allegedly responsible for assaulting its members, and said similar protests across Kerala also faced police action.
Government's Defense
Chennithala questioned the need for large-scale protests against a government that had been in office for 100 days and alleged that internal Communist Party of India (Marxist) differences were being projected through student protests.
- Protesting organisation
- Students' Federation of India (SFI), described as the student wing of the opposition Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Main protest
- A march to the Keralam Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, September 2
- Student leaders named
- Arya Prasad and Vaishnavi Shaji
- SFI's allegations
- Police used excessive force against protesters, including women students; SFI said the two leaders suffered head and facial injuries and were hospitalised
- Triggering university incident
- An SFI protest followed a Kerala University event during National Sports Day celebrations where “Vande Mataram” was sung in full
- Palakkad protest
- Police used water cannons during an SFI march toward the Superintendent of Police's office; one report said they were used four times, while another said several times
- Government's position
- Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said water cannons were used after protesters confronted and attacked police personnel
