Clash: 18 medical students suspended

Thiruvananthapuram: As many as 18 medical students, including 10 girls, belonging to 2012, 2013 and 2014 batches, were suspended by the Government Medical College management on Tuesday after serial clashes between students over results of an art festival last week.
Medical College police have also registered a case against one student. Nine students of 2012 batch, four of 2013 batch and five from 2014 batch were among those suspended.
The college authorities said clash began after the announcement of results of art festival on September 30.The students of 2012 batch assaulted students of 2014 batch in the hostel after they were provoked by a Facebook post. Later, another set of students tried to assault the student who put the post. Police had kept two students under detention after they tried to enter the class and assault a student. The matter was partly resolved in the station after a meeting was conducted by principal, staff adviser and men's hostel warden. However, the students clashed with each other in men's and girls' hostels again and girl students of 2014 batch assembled in the hostel and caused a din.
Medical College CI C Binukumar said that the students clashed again after settling the matter at the station.
An inquiry commission was formed comprising faculties of various departments which recommended suspension of students. Medical College principal Thomas Mathew said that students were suspended to ease the tension. "There exists a rift among various batches and results of art festival made things worse. A student posted something derogatory on FB which irked the other set. The inquiry panel was convinced that the students had to be suspended so as to restore peace in class and hostel. They have been suspended for an indefinite period but as soon as they express willingness to settle the issue, they would be retained," he said. TNN