Vande Mataram Seminar Row: Central University of Kerala suspends five students over protests

KASARGOD: A case has been registered against students of the Central University of Kerala over a protest against a two-day seminar on the 150th anniversary of the Vande Mataram national song, organised at the campus in Periya here, police said on Thursday. The university suspended five students, triggering further protests on campus demanding the withdrawal of the order on Thursday, officials said. Keralam Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar had alleged that there was a conspiracy behind the protest during the seminar held on October 6 and 7.

The students had staged a protest on campus against the presence of J Nandakumar, the national convener of an RSS-linked organisation. The students also alleged that several were denied entry despite having registered for the seminar.

Various student organisations, including the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students' Federation (AISF), Kerala Students Union (KSU) and Muslim Students Federation (MSF), took part in the protest. According to police officials at Bekal station, a case has been registered against 25 students who are yet to be identified.

150th anniversary of Vande Mataram seminar

The FIR said that on Wednesday at 1.30 pm, while a seminar in connection with the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram was being conducted at the Library Hall of the Central University of Kerala , Periya, about 25 students belonging to various student organisations unlawfully assembled with the intention of committing an offence. They came shouting slogans in a manner that disrupted the seminar, the FIR said.

Even after a lawful command was given to them to disperse, they disobeyed the complainant's order and continued shouting slogans and disrupting the event, it said. Officials said the case was registered on its own based on information provided by police personnel deployed as part of the security arrangements.

The case was registered on Wednesday under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for unlawful assembly, disobedience to a lawful order issued by a public servant, and rioting.

Police said they are examining CCTV footage from the campus as part of the investigation.

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University suspends five activists

Meanwhile, the university suspended five activists of various student organisations who took part in the protest against the seminar on Thursday. Officials said the Chief Proctor suspended SFI activists Sayed Ali S, Aved VB, MSF activists Shabeer and Taqiyuddin, and KSU activist Mohammed Yasin for two weeks. They have also been prohibited from entering the campus, including classrooms and hostels.

"The conduct of the students is highly inappropriate in an academic forum and is inconsistent with the standards of discipline, decorum and conduct expected of students participating in a university programme, and resulted in the disruption of the proceedings of the session," the order said.

Following the suspension order, various student organisations decided to hold a night protest at the administrative block. The students demanded the withdrawal of the suspension order, alleging that it was issued by the same person against whom they had previously protested.