Kerala University hostel clash: police book 80 Youth Congress and 80 SFI workers
Published
Police confirmed two cases with 160 accused in all. Who threw first, and what police did inside the hostel, is disputed by both sides.
Reporting as of 1 October 2026, 9:10am IST.
What police have confirmed about the Kerala University hostel violence is short: two cases, 160 people booked, 80 on each side. Almost everything else is a claim by one party or the other.
What police have confirmed
Police registered two cases at Museum police station on Thursday, 1 October, The Federal reported. One is against 80 Youth Congress and KSU workers. The other is against 80 SFI and DYFI workers.
Police said the offences against the accused are non-bailable and that the accused will be summoned and arrested, per The Federal. Whether any arrests have been made is not yet known.
How the clash began
On Wednesday night, 30 September, a Youth Congress and KSU march in Thiruvananthapuram demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Near the University College hostel in Palayam, it clashed with SFI activists.
Police used tear gas and a lathicharge, Onmanorama reported. Students, activists and police were injured. Police entered the hostel. Onmanorama puts the clash at about 7:30pm, lasting three to four hours. That is a single-source account.
Each side then told a different story.
What each party claims
- Youth Congress says stones and bottles were thrown from the hostel.
- SFI says a burning effigy or torch was thrown into the compound.
- CPI(M) says police beat students without provocation. Its state secretary said: "What we saw there was the picture of students being beaten up brutally." The party wants action against police officers.
- The Tourism Minister said: "Why are SFI members coming out to throw stones at it?"
Who threw first has not been established by any of these reports.
Outlets framed it differently
Deccan Chronicle wrote that the parties were trading charges. The Federal led on the equal numbers of opposing activists booked. Onmanorama led on leaders trading blame and questions over police action.
See how every outlet covered it
What happens next
SFI has called a statewide education strike on 1 October. It is not known whether any police officer faces an inquiry, or how many people were injured.
This story was produced with AI assistance and reviewed, edited and verified by the reporter before publication.
Covered by 3 outlets across the spectrum: 33% left, 34% center, 33% right.
Who is covering this story
- Left-leaning (1): The Federal
- Center (1): Onmanorama
- Right-leaning (1): Deccan Chronicle
Sources
- Kerala University hostel clash: police book 80 Youth Congress and 80 SFI workers — The Federal (left-leaning) ·
- Kerala University hostel clash: police book 80 Youth Congress and 80 SFI workers — Deccan Chronicle (right-leaning) ·
- Kerala University hostel clash: police book 80 Youth Congress and 80 SFI workers — Onmanorama (center) ·