SFI march turns violent; Dy SP, 2 CI among 14 injured

Kannur, Kerala, Mar 21 : Fourteen persons, including a Dy SP, two Circle inspectors, five policemen and six students, were injured when a Students Federation of India (SFI) march to the Kannur University at Mangattuparamba here turned violent today.

According to police, about 400 SFI activists including girls,
took out a march to Kannur univeristy around 1200 hrs, demanding
to cancel the fee hike of various courses and syndicate anti-students polices.

A large number of police led by Thaliparamba Dy SP K S Sudharshan, stopped the march in front of the gate, and the SFI activists pelted stones at the police, forcing them to use lathis and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

In the clash that followed, eight police men, including DySP, two Circle inspectors P Balakrishnan Nair, K Rathnakaran, Valapatnam Sub inspector Rajan and four civil police men suffered injuries.

Meanwhile, SFI leaders M Shajar, Sareen Sasi, K Sabeesh, district secretary P Prashob also suffered injuries.

CPI(M) district secretary P Jayarajan inaugurated the march.

The situation was under control since 1330 hrs, police said.

According to SFI sources, about 30 students suffered injuries
and were admitted at a private hospital, here.