Tension prevailed at the School of Legal Studies of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) at Kalamassery on Friday after students resisted the continuing strike by the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in protest against the hike in fees.
Students’ opposition to boycotting classes led to minor skirmishes with the striking SFI activists. A student of the School of Legal Studies, on condition of anonymity, alleged that the strikers abused the students including girls and threatened them with dire consequences if they attended classes.
The police intervened and dispersed the protestors before the situation went out of control. Classes were not held as the faculty members advised against it in the situation, he said.
The SFI has been on the warpath since the start of this semester alleging exorbitant hike in course fees. About 200 students of the School of Legal Studies, anxious over the continuous disruption of classes, had on Thursday decided not to boycott classes and instead approach the court for a legal solution to the hike. The decision was to strike at the administrative office after class hours and all students were signatories to the decision.
Students of the School of Legal Studies have approached the university registrar and the police seeking security for attending classes from Monday.
