SIT to inquire into MG College incidents

Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan terms violence at Mahatma Gandhi College in Thiruvananthapuram ‘deplorable and painful.’

Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan; AdditionalDirector General of Police, South Zone, A. Hemachandran; CityPolice Commissioner P. Vijayan; and MG College PrincipalSudheendran Kidangoor; on Tuesday, examine the damagecaused during Monday's violence at the college. — Photo: S. Gopakumar

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been set up to inquire into Monday’s violence at Mahatma Gandhi College here.

Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, who visited the college on Tuesday, told mediapersons that the government viewed the incident ‘very seriously’ and the SIT would be headed by City Police Commissioner P. Vijayan.

Condemning the violent incidents and describing it ‘deplorable and painful,’ the Home Minister said the government would provide all protection to the college and ensure that peace prevailed. It was for the college authorities to decide on resuming classes.

The country’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, had laid the foundation stone for the college. It had a rich tradition. Student’s issues should be resolved through talks and they could seek legal remedies to all their problems including the disciplinary action initiated against some of them, he said.

The government wanted peace to prevail in educational institutions and would take steps for that, Mr. Radhakrishnan said. “Such incidents should not be allowed to repeat as it will reflect in other colleges and will give a wrong feeling to society,” he added.

The Home Minister went round the college and saw the damage done by miscreants. Principal B. Sudheendran Kidangoor; Additional Director General of Police, South Zone, A. Hemachandran; Inspector General of Police, Thiruvananthapurm Range, Shaikh Darvesh Saheb; and Mr. Vijayan; accompanied him.