A second-year undergraduate student at Ernakulam’s Maharaja’s College was stabbed to death early on Monday allegedly by members of Campus Front, the student wing of the Popular Front of India. Abhimanyu, 20, a member of the Students’ Federation of India, was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries, The Hindu reported.
The incident took place following clashes over camps grafitti. A 19-year-old student named Arjun sustained serious injuries and was taken to the Ernakulam Medical Trust Hospital. Hospital authorities said his condition is critical.
The police said they have detained three Campus Front members in connection with the incident.
The Students’ Federation of India, which is the youth wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), has called for a day-long class boycott across college campuses in the state. “We will hold a protest meeting in all district centres on Monday to project the political violence of Campus Front,” the organisation’s state Committee Secretary Sachiv Dev told The News Minute. “There was a peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the Maharaja’s campus which they distorted. SFI would hold meetings in all campuses in all districts to explain the violence of politics.”
CPI(M) MLA M Swaraj claimed that “trained criminals” from neighbouring districts were responsible for the murder. “We have learnt that only one or two involved in the attack are students. The rest are trained henchmen,” he told The Hindu.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!