Under pressure from the top leadership of the CPI(M), the Students Federation of India has sacked JS Sharat, the district vice-president of the student organization in Thiruvanathapuram for slapping former Indian diplomat TP Sreenivasan at the sidelines of an event on Friday. The Thiruvananthapuram police have taken Sarath into custody.

A group of SFI cadres had manhandled TP Sreenivasan who is also the vice-chairman of the Kerala State Higher Education Council. He had been attacked by a group of activists who were protesting against a global education fair, calling it an attempt to privatise education in the state.

In a video published by Asianet News on Friday, an SFI activist is clearly seen slapping Sreenivasan. Other supporters are seen pushing and shoving him as he was walking towards his car during the Global Education Meet in Kovalam.

Manorama reported that J S Sharat, alias Kamini Sharat (23), is wanted in many cases including a case of attempted murder.

A case of attempted murder was charged against Sharat for beating up the son of a block panchayat president in Thiruvananthapuram.

CPI(M) leaders including VS Achutanandan, Polit Bureau member Pinarayi Vijayan and State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have condemned the attack. VS Achutanandan has even said that a police case should be filed against SFI cadres.

Sreenivasan had alleged that the police on the spot did not react promptly to save him from the ordeal. It is evident from the video that as he was pushed out of the venue, there were no police officers who came to his rescue. The officers seem to have come only later.

Earlier on Saturday, five policemen were sent for compulsory training to Thrissur police academy. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sudhakaran Pillai was given a showcause notice, asking him to explain why action should not be taken against him