: Incidents of violence were reported from Akkikkavu, near Kunnamkulam, on Saturday after a student drowned in a well while fleeing from the police.
The police identified the deceased as Shahin, 20, a second-year student of Royal College of Engineering, Akkikkavu. The incident took place on Friday night. Agitated students attacked the college and the Kunnamkulam Taluk Hospital on Saturday morning.
According to sources, the boy drowned in the well when he tried to escape from the police who had reached the college premises following a complaint of violence between two groups of students during the Onam celebrations there on Friday. Two students were injured in the violence, outside the college campus. They were admitted to the Government Hospital at Kunnamkulam.
Sources said the students entered into an altercation with the police team led by Kunnamkulam SI Noushad who reached Akkikkavu following a complaint. The police took two students into custody. A few students, including Shahin, fled the scene to escape the police. Shahin fell into a well nearby while fleeing.
The students alleged that the police did not take any immediate steps to rescue Shahin, though they had informed the police about it. Later, the Fire and Rescue Services team from Kunnamkuma retrieved the body.
Following the death of Shahin, an SFI activist, CPI(M) workers laid siege to the Kunnamkulam police station.
Students allegedly attacked the Kunnamkulam Taluk hospital. They damaged the front office and attacked Dr. Bineesh who was on duty. They also attacked KSU activist Ershad, who was under treatment at the hospital following the students’ clashes at the Royal College.
Students also attacked the Royal College on Saturday morning. They allegedly destroyed the security cabin, main entrance, college buses and small vehicles parked on the campus, reception counter, computers, office room and the Principal’s room, CCTV cameras, TV, and windows.
The students alleged that the college authorities had failed to initiate rescue operations even after the students informed them that Shahin was missing. They demanded that a case be registered against the college authorities in connection with the death of Shahin.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students thronged the Thrissur Medical College Hospital when Shahin’s body was brought for autopsy. His body was taken to Karimbra, near Palakkad, and buried at Pattissery Juma Masjid.
Hartal
The CPI(M) called for hartal in Kunnamkualm on Saturday. Shops and establishments remained shut. The police have strengthened security in the area.
