In Kerala, furious students set principal's chair on fire

A group of activists belonging to Students Federation of India (SFI) went on a rampage at Maharaja's College, one of the prominent colleges in Kerala, and burned the chair of principal N L Beena alleging moral policing on campus. 
 

Comment of the principal that girls are coming to college to cosy up with boys had irked students and a section of teachers. All-Kerala Government College Teachers’ Association had decided to take action against the principal. She had earlier faced criticism for filing a police complaint against students for writing poems on the walls of college and for suspending students for singing in cinema and acting in short film. 
 

Maharaja's College had been witnessing recurring protests by students against the principal after she tried to implement strict rules on the campus. The burning of the chair was the latest in the series of protests. 
 

On Thursday, agitators marched to the chamber of the principal, who was on leave, dragged her chair to the road in front of the main gate and set it on fire. Though police were informed, students dispersed from the spot before cops arrived. 
 

The protestors also alleged that along with moral policing principal was also contemplating closing down of college hostel. They also alleged the involvement of some of the teachers in the incidents. 
 

Later, a section of teachers held a march inside the campus pleading support for the head of the institution. 
 

Responding to the incident, the principal said that the latest events are part of a larger conspiracy hatched against her. However, she did not file any complaint with the police. 

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• principals chair set on fire
• moral policing on college campus
• College principal files police complaint
• student protest
• Maharaja's college issue