Kerala students attacked with stones for playing Holi? Staff booked, but no arrests yet

As many as 20 teaching and non-teaching staff allegedly attacked students with stones and sticks, for celebrating ‘Holi’ on campus.

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The Kerala police have registered a case against five people including teaching staff of Farook college in Kozhikode, for allegedly manhandling students inside the college campus. The students were celebrating Holi in the campus, and did not have permission for the same. As many as 20 teaching and non-teaching staff allegedly attacked them with stones and sticks to put an end to the celebrations.

The case was registered on Saturday, based on a complaint filed by one of the students involved in the incident on Thursday

The second year students of the college decided to celebrate Holi in the campus after their exams, around 2.30 pm.

"We had asked for permission to play drums as part of the celebration, but the college had refused this. So we did not use drums, but celebrated using colours only. We celebrated on one side of the college ground, where the parking lot is situated,” a student said, requesting anonymity.

“Suddenly, a group of teaching and non-teaching staff came towards us and forcefully took the colours from us. They also tried to take away the drums, which we had kept on one side. One student was brutally hit using a stick and he suffered injuries on his eyes," they added.

Six students were admitted to the hospital after the incident. All of them were discharged on Sunday.

As of now, the police have booked three teachers, Nishad, Sajir and Yunus, and a lab assistant Ibrahimkutty, under IPC sections 143, 147, 341, 323, 324 and 506. The police are however, yet to make any arrests in the case.

Asked about the delay in taking action, Feroke Sub-Inspector told TNM that they were yet to identify all the accused in the case.

"We need to investigate whether people from outside the college were involved in the incident. Only after doing so, can we proceed to arrest the accused," the SI said.

After the incident, widespread protests were carried out in the college the following day, demanding action against those who manhandled the students. A disciplinary committee and an inquiry committee have now been set up in the college to probe the incident.

"Initially, the college refused to take action against the staff and threatened to initiate action against us for holding the celebration. But after assault visuals began to circulate, the college authorities were forced to accept our demands," the student said.