Kerala University faculty alleges torture and death threats at the hands of SFI

The Students Federation of India (SFI), have a less than gentle reputation and their role in Ramjas hasn’t done them any favours.

T Vijayalakshmi, the Director-in-Charge of Students Services of Kerala University, has gone on indefinite leave citing death threats received from SFI affiliated students. For four days, she has confined herself to her house, ever since a group of students claiming to be from the SFI barged into her office and demanded Rs 7.5 lakh. Vijayalakshmi, also the head of Tamil department, said that the allocation of funds was contrary to university procedure and narrated the fallout of her decision to Newslaundry.

“An amount of Rs 30 lakh has been allocated for the purpose of college union activities every year. The director is responsible to get the bill of total amount spent and submit it to the management. S/he will receive a liability order otherwise.The college union under SFI has already spent Rs 22 lakh and never submitted the bill,” Vijayalakshmi explained.

She explained why she refused to allot them the money, “I asked [SFI] to submit the bill of Rs 22 lakh. I knew that the amount was necessary for them to settle dues as the college arts festival had just got over.“ She said she sent her assistant to draft a cheque for the amount but asked for a bill for university records, “Suddenly more SFI activists, raising slogans, barged into the room along with CPI (M)-affiliated University Syndicate member AA Rahim. They started showering verbal abuse and didn’t let me to move out of my chair.”

She alleged the group tortured her, refusing to let her move from her seat for almost three and a half hours, “They kept saying that this is their method of protest. It was almost 3.5 hours…and didn’t even allow me to use the toilet.” The security staff did not intervene. Vijayalakshmi said that Rahim led much of the protests against her, “Director is just a puppet. If you try to be smart, we will finish you off and we are not reluctant to do that. If you wish to live, just sign the check. Otherwise, you will never get out of here alive.” His last words to her she said was to not return to campus on threat of death she said.

It was not just the her hesitation in allocating them funds she said, it was that she also questioned their use of said funds in the past. “ SFI has been misusing the fund which is supposed to be spent on campus activities. I had raised questions regarding a building which was actually built for the college purpose, but now has been used as SFI party office,”said Vijayalakshmi.

Notably, Vijayalakshmi said, that not all of the people in her room that day were students. “Many goonda girls, who were not students at the varsity, were the ones who did the physical abuse.” She said they pulled at her hair and stabbed her with pens. Even the female councillor of the college joined them.” Not content with this, the union chairperson Ashita, claims Vijayalakshmi alleged that there existed an extramarital relationship between her and the Vice Chancellor of university.” The police had arrived by then she said, but also did not intervene. By this time, her assistant had returned with the money and the ‘students’ “went back ‘victoriously’.”

However, Amal R, General Secretary of the University union denies all the allegations made by Vijayalakshmi, and said that she deliberately did not release the funds and there were no irregularities involved. He denied all allegations of torture or harassment.

Meanwhile, Vijayalakshmi has lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister and Education Ministers the next day. She also filed a complaint with the Director General of Police on April 3.

The author can be contacted on Twitter @sahlanechiyil .