Violence breaks out in front of Kerala Law Academy, police resort to lathi charge

Violence broke out on Tuesday in front of the Kerala Law Academy in Thiruvananthapuram following failure of talks between student bodies and the college Directorial Board. This happened during the course of a protest match and road blockade led by ABVP -the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party- at Peroorkada. The police had to resort to lathi charge to disperse the protesters and had to even forcibly evict many while arresting a few to ensure that the tense situation did not spiral out of control. Even as SFI -a Left student wing- backed out from its earlier demand for Dr. Lekshmi Nair’s resignation, other student organisations -namely the KSU and the ABVP- have intensified their stir against the mismanagement of the Academy. Read: Benevolent SFI does not want Lekshmi Nair to go, but only step aside for five years With protests now entering the 21st day, both the KSU and the ABVP have accused the SFI of trying to derail the ongoing stir to ensure the Principal’s ouster. They accuse the Left student union of kowtowing to vested interests, even as the Pinarayi government seems highly reluctant to intervene in the raging controversy. Meanwhile, Kerala University Syndicate member and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) treasurer Johnson Abraham  has submitted a letter to the Governor asking for the removal of Dr. Lekshmi Nair from the post of Principal, citing that her appointment was not validated by the university within the mandatory period of six months. Update: SFI has ended its 17-day stir, citing that the college Management has assured it in writing that Leksmi Nair would be relieved of the duties of the Principal, and will not hold even a faculty appoinment for the next five years. The Vice-Principal will discharge the duties of the Principal for now. Other student bodies continue to protest demanding nothing short of Leksmi's ouster.