KSU members allegedly beat up fresher for refusing to participate in protest against a physical assault

A day after a Kerala Students Union (KSU) member in University College, Thiruvananthapuram was allegedly beaten up by an SFI worker, a freshman was allegedly attacked by two members of the KSU. Ajith Narayanan, a first-year BA Malayalam student says that he was beaten up for allegedly refusing to take part in a protest march that the Congress-affiliated KSU had organised.

"I was in the college corridor when two KSU unionists, Achyuthan and Amal PT spotted me. They were conducting a protest, condemning the attack on Nithin Raj, asecond year MA History student," says Ajith. "They had asked me to join the protest. When I refused, one of them caught me by my shirt's collar, while the other punched me on my neck. Later, they pushed me and I fell down," he says. On Wednesday night, Nithin was allegedly beaten up and was thrown out of the hostel window by a college alumnus, who is also a member of the SFI. Condemning the same, the KSU had called for a strike.

"I'm not part of any political organisation," says Ajith. "It is quite scary to be here on this campus right now. I fear for my life right now. Previously, the attacks happened here in SFI's name and now, we have one more such organisation," he adds.

The KSU, on the other hand, denied all the allegations. "This is utter nonsense and a malicious allegation," says Amal Chandra the college's KSU Unit president. "We never attacked anyone. Rather, it was the SFI who attacked us in front of the police officers," he adds.