By IANS
Changanacherry (Kerala) : An assistant sub inspector of police was killed in a clash that broke out between two rival student unions at a college here.
Elias died while trying to bring the situation at the Changanacherry Nair Service Society College under control Friday, when he was hit by a piece of wood inside the campus.
The situation in the campus has been tense for a week, with repeated clashes between the Students Federation of India — student wing of the Communist Party of India-Marxist — and the student wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Even though there were no classes Friday, supporters of the rival unions were in the campus and a police team arrived to control the situation.
In the melee the 47-year-old Elias was hit on his head by a piece of wood and fell down. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died.
“This is the first time in the history of the state that a police official has been killed inside a campus and this is not good,” state Education Minister M.A. Baby told reporters.
State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said inspector general of police Vinson M. Paul has been asked to rush to the spot to look into the matter.
“A few people have been taken into custody and the culprits will be booked. This will not be tolerated under any circumstances,” Balakrishnan told reporters.
Reports indicate that four supporters of the BJP student union have been taken into custody and the police are on the lookout for more people who were allegedly involved.