The CPI(M) observed a dawn-to-dusk hartal in Onchiyam grama panchayat in the district on Saturday in protest against the police lathicharge on the activists of the Students Federation of the India (SFI) who were taking out a victory procession after union elections at Government College, Madappally, on Friday.
Commercial establishments remained closed in various parts in the local body throughout the day. Clashes had occurred at Madappally and Nadapuram Road between rival groups after the college union elections. Soon afterwards the SFI activists staged a sit-in on the National Highway.
Subsequently the police had to resort to a lathicharge to remove the protesters.
College union elections were held for the second time on Friday after the authorities cancelled the earlier polls held last month.
The SFI repeated their success.
The refusal by the police to give them permission to take out a procession reportedly resulted in clashes. This was because the police had to stop outsiders from entering the campus.
The SFI had won all the general seats without any contest in college union elections held last month.
However, several students’ organisations submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy alleging that the SFI did not allow other organisations to function and submit nominations for the elections.
Following this, the elections held earlier had to be annulled.
