T’puram: Police have registered cases against around 160 people in connection with the clash between SFI and Youth Congress workers near University Men’s Hostel in Thiruvananthapuram.These cases have been registered against around 80 SFI activists and 80 Youth Congress and KSU workers. Police have so far arrested one person each from the two sides.The clash erupted during a Youth Congress march last Thursday when SFI activists allegedly heckled the protesters and threw beer bottles at them from the hostel premises. Youth Congress workers retaliated, following which the confrontation escalated into stone-pelting between the two groups.Police used tear gas and resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. Officers later entered the hostel premises to bring the situation under control. Police said the action was necessary as the confrontation had spread to the road outside the hostel and the hostel premises.Five DYFI activists have also been booked under non-bailable sections in connection with the alleged assault on a police officer during a DYFI-SFI march to Secretariat at around 7pm last Thursday. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by Dona M R Das of the police tear-gas squad. According to the complaint, the accused allegedly abused Dona, who was on duty in front of Secretariat’s main gate and struck her on the shoulder with a piece of wood.Meanwhile, CPM and SFI functionaries met home minister Ramesh Chennithala on Saturday and demanded action against police officers over the alleged assault of SFI activists.Police have also intensified investigations into incidents involving protests against the chief minister and ministers in the city. Five people were arrested for allegedly showing black flags to the CM, while two BJP-Yuva Morcha workers were arrested for allegedly obstructing minister K M Shaji.
