SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: January 10, 2022

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Government Engineering College, Idukki

Region & Country:Southern Asia | India

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On January 10, 2022, a student was killed amid clashes that broke out between members of the Students Federation of India and the Kerala Students Union at Government Engineering College, Idukki.

According to police, students clashed on campus when college union elections were taking place. SFI members allege that KSU members and India Youth Congress activists, the youth wing of the Indian National Congress party, perpetrated the attack. Dheeraj Rajendran, an SFI leader, was stabbed amid the attack and later died from his wounds. Two other SFI members were injured. 

At least six individuals have been arrested in connection with the attack.

Scholars at Risk is gravely concerned about a violent, on-campus clashes between student groups amid elections that resulted in the death of a student. SAR offers condolences to the student’s family, friends, and classmates and reminds students that they should refrain from violence. 

Sources:
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/jan/10/sfi-activist-stabbed-to-death-in-the-college-campus-in-idukki-2405193.html
https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/jan/18/dheeraj-rajendran-murder-court-to-hear-cops-plea-on-tuesday-for-duos-custody-2407983.html
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/-wont-allow-create-college-riots-kerala-cm-pinarayi-vijayan-sfi-activist-murder-1898303-2022-01-10​​
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sfi-worker-stabbed-to-death-in-idukki/article38222410.ece
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/youth-congress-leader-nikhil-paily-stabbed-dheeraj-rajendran-police-idukki-engineering-college-1.6347190
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/sfi-leader-stabbed-to-death-in-idukki-engineering-college-kerala-ksu-attack-1.6347067
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/breaking-news-live-updates-january-10/liveblog/88799843.cms