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. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: October 28, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Kerala Agricultural University

Region & Country:Southern Asia | India

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On October 28, 2025, Kerala police forcibly dispersed student protesters at Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) during a peaceful demonstration.

The Student Federation of India (SFI) launched the protest following reports that a student had discontinued his studies after the university imposed a sudden 35% fee hike for four-year degree programs. Demanding an immediate withdrawal of the fee increase, the SFI alleged that such a drastic hike in a publicly funded agricultural education system was “anti-student” and unacceptable.

Over 500 students joined the demonstration. Later that afternoon, police deployed water cannons to disperse the crowd. On November 1, 2025, the Kerala Agriculture Minister announced that the fee hike would be reconsidered.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during an on-campus protest and the detention of students for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2025/10/28/kerala-agriculture-univesrsity-fee-hike-sfi-stages-protest.html
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/kerala-agricultural-university-to-reconsider-course-fee-hike-minister/article70230546.ece
https://www.ptinews.com/story/national/sfi-protest-over-fee-hike-turns-violent-at-agricultural-university/3043492