Tension gripped the capital city for several hours after a protest march by Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists against the alleged manipulation of the college union election results by the Students Federation of India (SFI) at Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, turned violent on Monday.
At least three protesters were injured and many others arrested as they clashed with the police to turn the city, which has been basking in merriment during the Keraleeyam festival, into a battleground. The KSU has declared an education bandh in the State in protest against the alleged police excesses.
The unsavoury scenes unfolded shortly after the KSU took out a march to Xanadu, the official residence of Higher Education Minister R. Bindu, at Vazhuthacaud. Accusing her of sabotaging the college union election, the demonstrators demanded her resignation.