Woman Student Leader Sexually Assaulted By Members Of SFI

AISF Leader Sexually Assaulted: All India Student Federation leader has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by leaders of the Student Federation of India (SFI) in Kottayam. The latter is the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The woman also accused SFI leaders of using a casteist slur against her.

As per a report by News Minute, the alleged incident took place a clash broke out at the senate elections in Mahatama Gandhi University on October 21. The police have filed an FIR based on the woman's complaint.

The student leader alleged that SFI leaders sexually assaulted by her grabbing her chest and clothes. She named SFI Ernakulam district president Arsho, district secretary Amal, personal staff of General Education Minister V Sivankutty and Prajith K Babu.

The woman reportedly said that around noon on October 21 a group of SFI workers surrounded AISF leaders and began to attack the men. When she tried to stop them, she was allegedly abused and threatened to be killed. The SFI told the woman that she will be given a "fatherless child". She added in her complaint, "Following this, they abused me by calling my caste name and grabbed my clothes and chest."

What led to the Clash?

As per the report, the clash between the student wings started because of their difference in regard to election campaigning. Both AISF and SFI had earlier come together to fight the elections against Kerala Student Union. But the year, SFI did not fulfill the demand of AISF of one seat and they contested separately.

The woman can be seen in a viral video on social media where she is standing next to police officers in the university campus and arguing with SFI leaders. She is heard saying, "You can only defeat us by hitting us. But we are fighting with our ideology.. Don't become RSS persons."

The accused persons have been booked under several relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and many sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Act, as per a report by PTI. However, the SFI leaders have not been booked for alleged sexual assault.

The survivor had told the media on October 22, "The SFI leaders abused me and made casteist remarks. They threatened to rape me." SFI later came with their statement and denied all the allegations. They said that the AISF was joining hands with the BJP and Congress in order to demean the Left student wing.

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