A protest march taken out by the Indian Youth Congress to the Anjarakandy Kannur Dental College over the alleged delay in action against those accused in the death of first-year student R.L. Nithin Raj turned violent on Wednesday (April 22, 2026), with clashes breaking out between protesters and the police and window panes of the college being damaged.

The protesters overturned police barricades erected to stop the march and broke through the police cordon before entering the campus. A scuffle ensued between the police and demonstrators during which some activists allegedly smashed the college’s window panes. The police removed and detained several protesters. The demonstrators alleged that the police used force during the action and claimed that their clothes were removed during the arrest process.

A heavy police deployment had been stationed on the college premises in anticipation of the march.

The protest was inaugurated by Youth Congress State secretary Robert Vellamvally.District president Vijil Mohananpresided.

Separate protest

In a separate protest, the police used water cannons to disperse activists of the Fraternity Movement during a march to the District Police Chief’s office in Kannur demanding the immediate arrest of all those responsible, including teachers, in connection with Nithin Raj’s death.

The police stopped the march with barricade near the town police station. When protesters attempted to cross the barricades, the police used water cannons to disperse them.

Heavy police presence was deployed at the spot.