THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police and SFI activists clashed at the gate of Kerala University headquarters on Tuesday as the day-and-night strike by the student organisation, demanding the immediate release of funds for the Youth Festival, turned violent.The Vice-Chancellor in charge, Mohanan Kunnummal, clarified that only the new committee, after the upcoming elections, is eligible to conduct the festival using university funds, rejecting the outgoing student committee’s demand.Earlier, SFI students had staged a protest at the Vice-Chancellor’s office, seeking permission for the current union to organise the Youth Festival and the allocation of the Rs 50 lakh grant included in the budget. Staff were unable to leave the office as the room was locked, and the VC was not present.The SFI insisted that the grant be given to the current union, as the previous union had received it for last year’s festival. However, the VC refused and directed that the new union, to be elected this month, should be responsible for organising the event.During the protest, a complaint was raised about damage to mementos displayed in the VC’s office. The Vice-Chancellor instructed the registrar to investigate the security lapse and submit an urgent report. After a three-hour blockade, police removed the students from the office.
