The recruitment examination conducted by the Kerala Police Society in Kannur on Monday turned chaotic after members of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) staged a protest at the venue, alleging serious irregularities in the process.
The examination was being held for posts such as peon and security staff. However, the situation quickly escalated when KSU activists blocked the test, claiming that the recruitment was carried out without proper transparency. According to the protesters, many applicants who had submitted their forms later discovered that their names were missing from the official list of candidates allowed to appear for the exam.
Members of the Kerala Students Union, the student wing of the Indian National Congress, accused authorities of conducting the examination in a “secretive manner.” They alleged that several applicants were not even given receipts after submitting their applications, leaving them with no proof when their names did not appear on the candidate list.
Students who arrived at the examination centre also voiced their frustration. Some claimed they had applied for the posts but never received hall tickets. When officials pointed out that their names were not included in the official candidate list, protesters argued that repeated complaints from applicants regarding the non-issuance of hall tickets had been ignored.
The tense atmosphere at the venue further worsened as some students alleged that question papers were torn during the chaos and that hall tickets were seized. The confrontation disrupted the scheduled examination and created confusion among candidates who had gathered to take the test.
Amid the protest, T O Mohanan, MLA from Kannur, reached the venue and held discussions with society officials and the protesting students. Witnesses reported heated exchanges during the discussions as both sides presented their versions of events.
Officials of the Kerala Police Society, however, rejected the allegations raised by the protesters. They maintained that the recruitment process was conducted according to rules and insisted that no applicant who had properly submitted an application was denied the opportunity to appear for the examination.
The incident has sparked fresh debate in Kerala about transparency in recruitment processes, with student groups demanding greater accountability and a clear explanation from the authorities regarding the complaints raised by applicants.