Yechury condemns Rajasthan Police attack on SFI activists

Condemning an alleged attack by the Rajasthan Police on Students Federation of India (SFI) activists and "ransacking" a party office in Sikar, Communist Party of India (Marxist) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury on Monday said the ordinary democratic rights of students had been violated in an intimidatory manner.

"We demand that strong action should immediately be taken by the state government against the erring police officers and administration and false charges against the students should be withdrawn," he said.

In the attack, one of the leaders was seriously injured, and were admitted to a hospital. He was given at least 20 stitches.

"In protest to that attack, there was a march to the collecteriate on Monday, which was brutally attacked, and while chasing the protesting students, police entered the CPM office and ransacked it. Right now, the office is encircled by the state police," Yechury added.

"The attack, which was totally unprovoked, was on democratic rights of the students. It was the BJP (state) Government's manner of intimidating the students before an upcoming SFI national conference there in January. We strongly protest the police action as 'unacceptable'," he said, adding that the elementary exercise of democratic rights by the students cannot be curbed in this manner.