20-year-old SFI activist stabbed to death inside a Kerala college hostel

Abhimanyu was reportedly stabbed when SFI clashed with the Campus Front of India (student wing of PFI) over sticking posters inside the college.

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In an incident that has sent shockwaves in Kerala, a student of Maharaja's college in Kochi, who is also a member of the Students Federation of India (SFI) which is the student wing of the ruling CPI(M), was stabbed to death inside the hostel premises on Sunday.

Abhimanyu, the 20-year-old BSc Chemistry student, was killed when SFI students and Campus Front of India (Student Wing of PFI) workers allegedly clashed inside the campus on Sunday. A native of Marayoor in Idukki, Abhimanyu was allegedly stabbed on late Sunday night.

According to reports, the incident was triggered by an argument over sticking posters within the campus by the two groups. Abhimanyu was painting the walls of the campus to welcome the new batch of students whose classes were to begin on Monday. However, college staff has said that following this incident, the dates will be postponed. An official announcement will be made soon

Another student of the college, 19-year-old Arjun who studies BSc Philosophy, also sustained severe injuries. He has been admitted to the Ernakukulam Medical Trust Hospital in the city and had to undergo an emergency surgery.

Police have arrested Kottayam native Bilal and Farooq and Fort Kochi native Riyaz over the incident. Investigations are ongoing.

Criminals murdered Abhimanyu

Trained criminals from neighbouring districts were involved in the gruesome murder of Abhimanyu at Maharajas College in Ernakulam, M Swaraj, a Communist Party of India (Marxist) MLA said.

“We have learnt that only one or two involved in the attack are students. The rest are trained henchmen. You might be aware that such people were involved in an attack against police during the Holy Month of Ramadan in Aluva,” Swaraj added.

A police team was beaten up by a localite in Aluva and when he was taken into custody a group of people made a ruckus at the police station too.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said in the assembly that the group of which some were former members of NDF had terrorist links.

Meanwhile, police said that out of the attackers, one had taken admission in the college last week and one was about to join on Monday.

“Three people have been arrested so far. Bilal (19) from Chirakkal house Kottayam, Farooq (19) from Pathanamthitta and Riyaz (37) from Fort Kochi. Farooq was to join Maharaja’s as part of the new batch on Monday while Bilal was already a student of the college. Riyaz is a party worker for NDF”

“Our initial investigations reveal that the rest are outsiders. A probe is on. Soon, the culprits will be caught,” the police official said.

Meanwhile, SFI alleged that Abimanyu was hacked to death by NDF (Popular Front) criminals inside the college.

“A group of NDF activists came from outside attacked the college students with deadly weapons. Another comrade also has been severely injured and hospitalized in critical state. Red Salutes to our beloved Comrade," SFI said.

(Wih inputs from Rejimon K)