Thiruvananthapuram: Save University Campaign Committee (SUCC) has demanded exemplary legal and disciplinary action against SFI activists who allegedly abused and manhandled Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit vice-chancellor Ciza Thomas and tried to prevent her from leaving the campus during a protest.In a statement, committee chairperson R S Sasikumar on Saturday said the protesters took out a symbolic funeral procession, verbally abused the VC and obstructed her movement while police personnel remained passive.Sasikumar said the incident was the latest in a series of attacks and acts of disrespect against women officials in the state’s higher education sector. He cited earlier incidents involving senior women academics and administrators at Kerala University, Govt Victoria College, Maharaja’s College and Govt College, Kasaragod.Sasikumar criticised the police for failing to intervene and questioned whether certain officers were acting contrary to the policies of the UDF govt.Govt should protect university officials who act in accordance with the law and resist political pressure, he said. Strong action against those responsible was necessary to prevent the recurrence of such incidents and ensure the safety of women officials on campuses, the statement said.
