19 SFI Activists Arrested for Vandalising Rahul Gandhi’s Wayanad Office

SFI state president K Anusree and state secretary PM Arsho said stern action would be taken against the vandals.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. 

(Photo: PTI)

Nineteen activists belonging to the Students' Federation of India (SFI), were arrested on Saturday, 25 June, in connection with the attack and vandalism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's office in Wayanad on Friday. The police are expecting more arrests, reported news agency PTI.

A local court remanded all arrested persons for two weeks after the state government ordered a high-level probe hours after the incident, suspending the Kalpetta deputy superintendent of police pending enquiry.

"At present, the case is being investigated by the Mananthavady deputy superintendent of police and it will be handed over to the ADGP-led special investigation team (SIT) soon," police told PTI.

The SFI denounced the violent protest allegedly by its members and said the march by its district unit did not have the permission from the state committee.

SFI State President K Anusree and state secretary PM Arsho said in a statement stern action will be taken against the organisers of the march.

The Congress on Friday condemned the attack on Gandhi's office, blaming it on "SFI goons."

The protest march of the SFI, the students wing of ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) turned violent after a group of protesters allegedly entered the Lok Sabha member's office and vandalised it.

'Unacceptable': SFI State Committee

In a statement late Friday, the SFI said it had not taken any decision to protest against the buffer zone issue and the march to Gandhi's office was carried out without the permission of its state committee.

"The protest march against the office of Rahul Gandhi was unacceptable and stern action will be taken against those who led the march," the SFI said.

Anusree and Arsho said in the statement that the protest march organised by the district committee was not with the approval of SFI's state committee.

They denounced the agitation.

SFI is the student wing of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) party.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took to Twitter to "strongly condemn the offence," stating that though "everyone has the right to air their opinions and protest democratically," that should not "result in excess."

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared visuals of the vandalised office, asking Vijayan and party leader Sitaram Yechury to take disciplinary action against party members.