A civil police officer sustained a severed finger in the melee between police and Students Federation of India (SFI) activists during a protest in front of the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University on Tuesday.

The incident occurred during a protest march organised by SFI demanding the withdrawal of the university’s ‘year-out’ system. The injured officer, identified as Achu attached to the Armed Reserve camp, lost a finger on his right hand when the demonstrators attempted to push down police barricades that was erected outside the campus. The officer’s finger became trapped in the barricade during the scuffle and was severed.

He was immediately taken to the Thiruvananthapuram Government Medical College Hospital. The demonstration was called off after university authorities assured SFI activists that the Vice-Chancellor would hold discussions with them on June 27 to discuss their demands.

Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala condemned the violence and warned of strict action. He said that attacks on police personnel and acts of violence during demonstrations would not be tolerated under any circumstances. While peaceful protest is a democratic right, law and order must be respected, he added.