Vol. XLI No. 16 April 16, 2017
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SFI Condemns Attack on Its Leaders in Kerala

THE central executive committee of SFI, in a statement issued on April 10, has condemned the attack on M Vijin, SFI Kerala state secretary, Ashitha, Kerala University Union chairperson and other students by the goons of Vellappalli Natesan Engineering College, a self-financing institute in Alappuzha.

Arsh, a second year student hailing from Thiruvananthapuram, attempted to end his life on April 8, by hanging himself in the hostel room, after cutting his vein. He survived the attempt as his collegemates rushed him to a hospital. Earlier, he had complained about the quality of food being served in the college canteen. It provoked the principal and Arsh was mentally harassed which forced him to think of the extreme step. The student had also written a suicide note citing the torture by the college administration. It is not the first time such harassment is being reported from the same college. The college was run by NDA leader Subhash Vasu.

Protesting against the incident, SFI activists took out a march to the college on April 10. The goons of the college management started pelting stones at the protesters. Vijin and Ashitha suffered injuries on their head. SFI demands strong action against the culprits responsible for the torture and harassment of the students. SFI also demands strict and sturdy action to ensure democratic atmosphere in self-financing colleges. SFI central executive committee appeals to all democratic sections to join in the struggle against the witch-hunt on students by the self-financing colleges and the attack on SFI leaders.