Protest during exam in Kannur; KSU activists tear up hall tickets of candidates

KANNUR: Activists of Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a protest during the examination for the posts of night watchman and peon at the Kannur Police Society, alleging that the recruitment process was not transparent. During the protest, KSU activists tore up the hall tickets of several candidates. The incident took place around 10 am, just before the examination was scheduled to begin.

According to the candidates, KSU activists had entered the exam hall and occupied seats even before the test started. They reportedly did not have hall tickets with them. Candidates also alleged that the activists behaved aggressively when officials asked them to show their hall tickets. The protesters claimed that many of them had applied for the exam but did not receive hall tickets. Amid the protest, KSU activists allegedly snatched and tore the hall tickets of candidates who had arrived to write the exam.

KSU leaders said the protest was aimed at preventing alleged backdoor appointments through a “secret examination.” They also claimed that the exam was being conducted without proper public notification. However, reports say that advertisements inviting applications for the posts of night watchman and peon at the Kannur Police Society had appeared in newspapers, including Deshabhimani and Kerala Kaumudi, on March 14. The last date for submitting applications was April 16.

A total of 75 candidates who had applied attended the examination. The test was arranged in the hall inside the Kannur AR Camp. The schedule included a written examination in the morning, followed by interviews in the afternoon.