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AISF activists held near Minister's function venue

Staff Reporter

Protest against International Education Meet in Kochi

BATTLE ON THE STREET: The police removing the AISF activists who tried to wave black flag at Education Minister E.T. Mohammed Basheer at a function in Kozhikode on Sunday.

Kozhikode: Nine activists of the All-India Students' Federation (AISF) were taken into custody on Sunday for attempting to stage a demonstration at a function attended by Minister for Education E.T. Mohammed Basheer here, the city police said.

The federation, a Communist Party of India affiliate, has been protesting against the State Government holding the International Education Meet from February 4 in Kochi.

Mr. Basheer was here to inaugurate Santhwanam Students Counselling Centre, a joint initiative of the Mujahideen Students' Movement and the Education and Career Guidance Centre at Thenipalam in Malappuram district.

Policemen rounded up K. Anil Kumar, AISF city secretary, and K. Manoj, member, at a shop near the venue. Adarsh Babu and K. Gineesh, district committee member and Mandalam committee member, respectively, were taken into custody while walking in the area. P.K. Ratheesh and four other activists were detained while shouting slogans on the street when the Minister was speaking at the inaugural function, the police said.

The activists have been let off on bail. A petty case has been registered at the Town Police Station.

In a statement in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, AISF State president Arun K.S. and secretary Mahesh Kakkath said the Kochi meet was being organised with the objective of total commercialisation of the education sector. The AISF, they said, will intensify its agitation against the meet in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Vice-Chancellors of seven universities in the State have sought to allay the fears that the meet will lead to foreign agencies entering Kerala's educational sector. The Vice-Chancellors, in a joint statement on Sunday, said the protests were borne out of misunderstandings.

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