Kerala Students' Union protest march ends in violence

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A protest march taken out by Kerala Students Union (KSU) activists demanding justice for Devika, the class X student of Malappuram, who allegedly ended her life owing to lack of facilities at home to attend the new online classes provided by the government, turned violent. The police fired nine rounds of tear gas and used water cannons to disperse the agitated KSU activists.
A case was registered against around 100 KSU activists who could be identified on sight in connection with the violence. Charges of blocking road and violating lockdown rules were invoked in the case. This include KSU state president K M Abhijith and district president Syed Ali.
The police had deployed barricades to prevent the agitators from reaching the Secretariat gate. The police used force when the KSU activists tried to break through the barricades. Water cannons were used to disperse the activists. When their attempt to break through the barricades failed, the agitators then blocked the road and staged a sit in. This was when the police fired tear gas at them. Several KSU activists have sustained injuries in the clash.
The KSU took out the march raising various demands. The main demand was to end government apathy towards the bereaving parents of the girl who ended her life on the first day of the new academic year. Resolving glitches in the online class sessions and timely distribution of study materials among under privileged children were the other demands. The protest march was inaugurated by Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala.