Thiruvananthapuram: Three SFI women activists, including members of the SFI central and state committees, were injured in a police lathicharge after their protest march against the rendition of the full version of Vande Mataram at Kerala University headquarters turned violent on Tuesday.SFI has announced a protest march to the Secretariat under the leadership of its state committee against the police action on Wednesday. SFI has demanded action against the police personnel involved in the alleged assault.Around 100 SFI activists marched from University College to the university headquarters. Police had erected barricades in front of the main entrance to prevent the protesters from entering the premises. The protesters climbed over the barricades and raised slogans, following which police used water cannons to disperse them.A verbal altercation broke out between the protesters and police, eventually leading to a lathicharge. SFI activists alleged that police surrounded and assaulted protesters, including women.The women suffered injuries to their heads and faces. Police resorted to force without any provocation, they alleged.SFI had organised the protest against the full rendition of Vande Mataram during a programme held at Kerala University headquarters as part of National Sports Day celebrations.SFI activists also criticised UDF govt over singing the national song, alleging that govt was using protocol as a pretext to impose the full rendition of Vande Mataram. They sarcastically said if govt continued to invoke protocol, Vande Mataram would perhaps be sung in its entirety at cabinet meetings too.
