Abhimanyu

Abhimanyu M. was a student activist stabbed to death in Maharaja's College, Ernakulam on 2 July 2018. He was a student of B.Sc. Chemistry.

Early life Abhimanyu was born on 6 May 1997 as the youngest son of Manoharan and Bhoopathy, two Tamil peasants from an Adivasi community, in Vattavada. Parijith and Kowsalya are his siblings. Abhimanyu was the Idukki District Committee member of the Students' Federation of India.

Death Abhimanyu was murdered by a 16-member gang involving the activists of the Campus Front of India (CFI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and the Popular Front of India (PFI). He was 21 years old at the time of his killing. According to the police reports, the murder was triggered after an argument between Students' Federation of India activists and Campus Front of India (CFI) over sticking posters within the Maharaja's College campus. This led to issues with CFI members. This slogan provoked the Campus Front of India (CFI) members. He was admitted to the Ernakukulam Medical Trust Hospital and underwent emergency surgery. Students across India contributed books over courier. Simon Britto, another student leader who was paralysed after getting stabbed by the members of KSU activists at Maharaja's College on 14 October 1983. He wrote a book named "Maharaja's Abhimanyu". The book was published by handing over a copy of it to writer M. K. Sanu on 14 October 2019. Writer M.K Sanu drew a parallel between Abhimanyu's murder and the chopping of Professor T J Joseph's hand by religious extremists at Thodupuzha Newman College. The CPI (M) collected Rs 3.10 crore as ‘Abhimanyu martyr fund’ to help Abhimanyu's family. A student training centre in his name was also initiated in Ernakulam. The college magazine of Sri Vivekananda Patana Kendram (SVPK) Arts and Science College, Nilambur was named as "Abhimanyu". It included a poem dedicated to him and an article on his murder. On July 31, 2018, a group of Campus Front of India (CFI) and Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) activists entered the college and forcefully burned the College Magazine. However, the memorial was built by Students Federation of India activists and was unveiled on July 2, 2019. This stirred controversy. Kochi Corporation ordered a probe to enquire whether the college had taken permission from the civic body before building the memorial. The case was registered under Sections 142, 148, 323, 324, 307 and 302 read with 149 of the IPC at the Central police station, Ernakulam. Sahal who was staying at a hideout in Karnataka surrendered on 18 June 2020. According to Kerala Police, Sahal was alleged to have stabbed Abhimanyu and Mohammed Shahim was the man who stabbed Arjun. Muhammad Shaheem, the second accused was also absconding, but surrendered in court in November 2019. Shajahan was the one who planned the attack and Shiraz gave all necessary training to CFI workers. Rifa, a state level leader of CFI was arrested when hiding in Bangalore. Manaf, one of the accused in a case related to chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010, was the 13th accused in the murder case. Police found that the culprits arrived at college hostel armed with lethal weapons to attack maximum student activists. The trial of the Abhimanyu murder case is ongoing in the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court. directed by Saji S Palamel and Padmavyuhathile Abhimanyu directed by Vineesh Aaradya.