Kochi: On October 16, K Aradhana, a female member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), found herself locked in a dimly lit room for several hours by members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) at Government Polytechnic College in Kannur, Kerala. During her confinement, she was denied access to restroom facilities. This unfortunate incident occurred after she was assaulted by SFI members for distributing ABVP membership forms and wearing a rakhi on her wrist.

Under duress, she was coerced into providing a written statement admitting her actions were wrong and promising not to participate in ABVP activities on campus. The ABVP has strongly condemned this action by the SFI, considering it a clear violation of the young girl's rights. K Aradhana, a first-year student in the Textile Department, reported the ordeal to the college principal.

In many instances, the principals of these colleges tend to have affiliations with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and may hold reservations about the militant tendencies associated with CPM, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), and SFI.

The SFI members subjected her to verbal abuse and insisted that she remove the rakhi from her wrist within the college premises, without providing a clear reason. They then proceeded to search her bag and eventually confined her to a room. Aradhana's father had to visit the campus to secure her release. Given the absence of the principal on the campus, law enforcement was called upon to intervene and resolve the situation.

The ABVP has expressed strong opposition to the acts of violence committed by the SFI. Gibin Raj, the president of ABVP in the Kannur district, stated that if the Principal supports those responsible for the incident, legal action will be pursued against him. He emphasized ABVP's commitment to mobilizing students to counteract acts of aggression and violence associated with communist ideology.

According to reports, the individuals involved in the attack have been identified as SFI members, including Akash Babu, Anuprakash, Swaswat, Manas, Niranjan, Gopika, and Sukrita. This incident highlights a concerning trend where Marxist groups are negatively influencing even young girls. The Kannur district has gained notoriety for instances of violence by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) against their political opponents, including high-ranking CPM leaders, such as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Gibin Raj remarked that democracy appears to be stifled within the confines of Kannur Government Polytechnic. Workers from other organizations are targeted, obstructing their legitimate activities. Unfortunately, these authoritarian tendencies are seeping into other educational institutions as well. It is noteworthy that the CPM and their affiliated groups often vocally advocate for women's safety, yet they engage in actions like assaulting a girl engaged in activities for her own organization, presenting a stark contradiction.

Strong aversion to customs rooted in Bharatiya and Hindu traditions, such as the rakhi festival, and assertive Hindus, is not an uncommon occurrence in Southern India. Recently, several leaders, including DMK's Udhayanidhi Stalin, A Raja, and Congress' Priyank Kharge, made disparaging remarks against Sanatana Dharma. In fact, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) appears to oppose these values even more vehemently than religious extremists do. In response to the injustices suffered by Aradhana, members of ABVP organized a protest march. According to reports, the police have initiated legal action against certain SFI workers, as the college principal has not taken any measures to address the situation.

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