Panel to submit report in 2 days

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State youth commission has conducted a sitting at University College in the backdrop of allegations against Students Federation of India (SFI) members harassing students. The commission, which took a suo motu case, heard SFI union members, unit members, nine girls who filed a complaint against SFI, other students and teachers on Tuesday.The commission will submit its report to the government within two days.Nine girls, who were allegedly harassed by the SFI, informed the commission that students were harassed by the SFI leaders for attending political meetings. "The students are forced to attend SFI rallies. Those who do not attend will have to give explanation at SFI unit office, the green room near the auditorium. Boys will face physical harassment while girls will be mentally harassed. We are facing the wrath of SFI after we refused to budge to their demands. The SFI leaders, who are under suspension, attacked our seniors as a warning to us," said the girls, who belong to English department. Anjali, one of the students, told the commission that the college authorities failed to intimate them about the commission hearing.SFI unit secretary Jishnu and joint secretary Aarabhi A Padman informed commission that the allegations levelled by the girls were untrue. "These nine girls had ragged first BA student Vikas Govind, who has filed a complaint with the principal," the SFI leaders said.Jamsheetha, one of the complainants, said that they have proof in the form of SMS and Facebook messages of Vikas which refute the ragging angle.Arya S, formerly a Women's College student who booed Rajath Kumar for his anti-women remarks, also gave statements on the issue. Arya, an MA English student of University College, said that the complaints that SFI was forcing students to attend its rallies were true. "Though PG students are not compelled to attend rallies, SFI has forced us to subscribe 'Student' magazine. When we did not agree to pay the subscription fee, they tried to threaten us," she said. Arya added that the parents of the nine girls were threatened by local CPM leaders.Youth commission chairman R V Rajesh told TOI that he will submit a report after discussing with the commission members within two days. "The report will also have recommendations to improve the academic situation of the college," he added.