T’puram: As part of its nationwide agitation over the alleged irregularities in NEET 2026, SFI on Thursday intensified its protests across Kerala.SFI activists staged marches to Lok Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram and central govt offices across the state in support of the ongoing agitation in Delhi and against the alleged police action on protesting students.The march to Lok Bhavan in the state capital was inaugurated by leader of opposition Pinarayi Vijayan. Hundreds of activists raised slogans against Centre, demanding the resignation of Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the alleged examination irregularities.Addressing SFI activists in Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayan alleged that NEET had been marred by large-scale fraud and malpractice affecting more than 25 lakh students. He described the alleged irregularities as criminal acts that had betrayed students who had worked hard to prepare for the examination.Accusing the Union govt of allowing question paper mafias to flourish, Vijayan said the controversy had undermined the credibility of the national entrance examination system and shattered the aspirations of lakhs of students. He said the protests reflected growing student anger against Centre.As protesters marched towards Lok Bhavan, police used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Several activists were detained after trying to scale barricades. However, protesters refused to retreat and continued their demonstration despite repeated police action.In Kochi, SFI activists and students took out a protest march to the BSNL office. Police lathicharged students who had crossed the barricades during the protest and fired tear gas cannisters. A few students reported being unwell soon after the tear gas were fired.Office-bearers of SFI district committee condemned the police action against students. “Thirty three of our activists were arrested. The police fired four rounds of tear gas even female students were beaten up. Six individuals are undergoing treatment at various hospitals in the city,” said Asish S Anand, a member of the Ernakulam district committee.Protests were held across the Malabar districts as well, with demonstrations turning tense at several places..SFI activists marched to the Income Tax office in Kozhikode, while similar protests were held at the head post office in Kannur and the post office compound in Kasaragod. In Wayanad, Youth Congress workers clashed with the police during a protest at Kalpetta.SFI took out marches in Alappuzha and Kottayam as well on Thursday, with four of the student organization’s activists injured in lathicharge.The injured include SFI district president Ananthu Aji and office-bearers Kasinath, Noor Muhammad and N Anshad, all of whom were treated at the district general hospital.The march, which began near EMS Stadium on Thursday afternoon, stopped in front of the head post office as a result of police barricades. When repeated attempts by activists to pull down the rope-reinforced barricade failed, police began forcibly detaining students who scaled the barricade or a nearby wall, leading to scuffles.In Kottayam, hundreds of students took part in a march that began near the collectorate. Police blocked the march near the head post office and used a water cannon to disperse protesters, leading to brief tension in the area.In Palakkad too, SFI activists staged a march to the head post office on Thursday. A confrontation took place when the activists tried to breach the police barricades near the post office. Police used water cannons three times to disperse the crowd. A minor scuffle also took place between the activists and police personnel.(With inputs from all bureaus)
