THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Members of the Students Federation of India (SFI) staged statewide protests across Kerala, calling for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged irregularities in the NEET examinations.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital, the SFI organized a big march to Lok Bhavan. Tensions flared when activists attempted to remove police barricades, leading to clashes. Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd, but even after three rounds, the students refused to leave, making it difficult for the authorities to control the situation.

Opposition Leader Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the protest march in front of Lok Bhavan.

SFI activists clashed with police in multiple districts as students marched to central government offices and staged demonstrations against the Centre. Similar scenes unfolded in Kochi, Thrissur, and Alappuzha, where students stood their ground despite repeated use of water cannons.

In Kannur, tensions rose during an SFI march to the Head Post Office when police used water cannons to remove protesters from a police vehicle. In Pathanamthitta, several student protesters were detained and removed from the site.

The SFI has called for an all-India Education Bandh to protest police action in Delhi and has demanded the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan.