Protest marches by SFI and KSU to the Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre in Thrissur on Monday over the suicide of one of its students turned violent. 18-year old Jishnu Pranoy had taken the extreme step on Friday after college authorities accused him of copying during a semester examination.

Widespread protests saw SFI members protesting in the campus and vandalising classrooms and the office-room. Window panes and doors were shattered, despite the police presence in the campus.

KSU activists were lathi-charged by the police as they too resorted to violent protests in the aftermath of Jishnu’s untimely demise. Student political activists were seen burning effigies in front of the college.

Even though Jishnu was an SFI worker, student-groups cutting across political affiliations came together to protest over his death. SFI state secretary Vigil told The News Minute that they would continue to hold protests till justice for Jishnu was ensured.

He alleged that the college had a separate room for physical torture of errant students.

According to Jishnu's friends, the invigilator had accused him of copying in the exam when he was caught turning behind in his seat, while the exam was underway. Despite Jishnu claiming that he was not cheating, the authorities threatened to debar him and made him cross out his answer-sheet.

Speaking to television channels, Jishnu's mother too accused the college management of harassing her son. Citing injury marks on his body including blood clots on his leg, she believed that her son had faced harassment at the hands of the authorities.