A clash between Youth Congress and the SFI workers near the University Men’s Hostel at Thiruvananthapuram turned violent in the evening as stones and flaming torches were thrown during it. Police used tear gas and batons as the situation remained tense for many hours.
The incident occurred after a Youth Congress march towards the Accountant General's office where protesters were demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The procession went on to the area near University College and the men's hostel where tension between Youth Congress-KSU workers and SFI members erupted.
According to the reports from the scene, the fight continued for nearly three hours and later spread out to University College campus and the surrounding Palayam area. Some students as well as police were injured in the violence.
Protest March Turns Violent
The Youth Congress demonstration was part of a campaign demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The march reached the University Men's Hostel area at night when both sides have different accounts of how the confrontation started.
Youth Congress workers claimed stones and bottles were thrown from the hostel premises into the procession. They said the protesters retaliated against the stone-pelting.
SFI members, however, argued that Youth Congress and KSU workers had initiated the dispute and claimed that the two sides had fought and thrown stones during the escalation. There were also burning torches used in the clash, as the sources said. The two accounts could not be easily reconciled separately.
The violence increased when some Youth Congress workers moved towards the hostel. Police personnel were deployed between the two groups as the situation threatened to escalate further.
Violence spreads to University Campus.
The confrontation also reached the nearby University College campus. KSU and Youth Congress workers allegedly entered the college premises by crossing a wall, with flex boards being damaged during the unrest.
With more activists and students in the area, the police increased their presence. Officers asked people to disperse and deployed tear gas when the confrontations continued.
The situation was tense despite the police intervention as activists were on one side and students in the hostel building. Ambulances were also at the scene as injured people were taken for medical care.
Police Use Tear Gas And Batons
Police used tear gas several times to disperse the groups. Officers later entered the men's hostel and used batons against students as the confrontation continued.
SFI representatives criticised the police action and alleged that students were subjected to excessive force. Some students suffered head and other injuries during the police intervention, the organisation said.
ADGP (Law and Order) P Vijayan reached the scene as senior police officials attempted to restore calm. Police said action would be taken against those involved in the violence.
Two police officers also sought medical treatment after receiving some injuries in the incident, according to The New Indian Express.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Keralam: Youth Congress members in Thiruvananthapuram removed SFI banners and staged a protest after alleging that SFI members attacked them during the demonstration. Police subsequently used mild lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the gathering. https://t.co/c5uknSrTXQ pic.twitter.com/lr38sz8CuQ
— ANI (@ANI) September 30, 2026
Pinarayi Vijayan Visits Hostel
The incident also attracted political leaders to the spot. CPI(M) leaders Pinarayi Vijayan, V Sivankutty and P K Sreemathi reached the hostel area amid the tension.
Pinarayi Vijayan blamed Youth Congress workers for what he said was an attack on students and claimed that a burning torch was thrown into the hostel. His remarks were in line with CPI(M)’s account of the incident. Youth Congress workers denied these allegations and claimed the encounter started with stone-pelting from the hostel side.
The two sides have been at odds that both sides are to blame for the violence.
SFI Announces Class Boycott
Following the police action inside the hostel, SFI announced a statewide class boycott for Thursday. The protest was against the police intervention and the alleged treatment of students during the clash, the organisation said.
As politics rages under pressure in Kerala, Youth Congress, KSU, SFI and other political parties have been involved in a series of protests and counter-protests.
The police investigation and testimony of witnesses will be the basis for establishing the sequence of events and determining who is to blame for specific acts of violence for now. Youth Congress and SFI’s differing claims make it necessary that the allegations from either side be treated separately from the facts which are independently established.
The Thiruvananthapuram clash, however, has resulted in injuries, property damage and large disruption around the university area with increased police presence and student and political organisations’ protests.
