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Police keep tabs on campuses

The police are keeping surveillance on the campus of professional colleges in the city after getting information about activities of some religious outfits, writes Biju Govind.

Incidents at two professional colleges in the city last week cannot be construed as mere clashes between students' groups on the campus.

The police suspect that fundamentalist outfits, which have infiltrated into students' organisations, had a vital role in the clashes. Already the intelligence wing of the police has sounded alarm bells regarding the activities of such outfits on the campus.

"We are trying to assess the extent of influence certain outfits have over a section of students. The college principals have been alerted to inform the police about the activities of subversive elements," Kozhikode City Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhayay said.

Clashes at the Kozhikode Government College at Vellimadukunnu between the Kerala Students Union (KSU)-Muslim Students' Federation (MSF) combine and the Students Federation of India (SFI) on March 5 were reported to be a sequel to the incident during the moot court competitions. At least 10 students suffered injuries in the incident.

At Kozhikode Medical College, clashes occurred between the students of the college union and the SFI on March 9. Three persons were arrested including a person hailing from Puthiyangadi. Swords, iron rods and religious literature propagating communal hatred were also seized from the college hostel.

The incident was said to be a follow-up to the ongoing quarrel between the SFI and some of the office-bearers of the college union comprising activists of an independent body.

Mr. Upadhayay said that college principals should be vigilant to prevent outsiders from entering the campus and carrying out illegal activities at the hostel. "We will have to check with the academicians about any suspicious activity on the campus," he said.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist)-affiliated feeder organisations alleged the involvement of some extremist forces backing the students at Kozhikode Medical College.

United Democratic Front leaders, including DCC president K.C. Abu and Indian Union Muslim League district general secretary P.K.K. Bava, alleged that the CPI(M) local committee secretary led the attack on the KSU and MSF workers at law college.

Now with the medical college reopening on Thursday after two protracted meetings of parents, Principal P.V. Ramachandran has an onerous task on his hand.

Government Law College Principal Radha G.Nair said that she was not aware of students' organisations getting help from any forces outside the campus.

The college is yet to be reopened even after meetings of the faculty, parent teacher association and an all-party talks. Since the UDF and the BJP representatives boycotted the all-party talks another meeting will be chaired by the Collector-in-charge on Saturday.

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