A student mime performance expressing solidarity with Palestine at a school in Kasaragod, Kerala, was abruptly halted by teachers on Friday, October 4, 2025, leading to widespread student protests across the campus.
During the school’s annual arts festival at Kumbala Government Higher Secondary School, two teachers reportedly intervened mid-performance, instructing students to stop and subsequently pulling down the stage curtains. This unexpected action immediately drew sharp criticism from the student community and concerned groups.
In response to the escalating controversy, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) convened an urgent meeting on Saturday. However, the meeting was disrupted when activists from the Muslim Students Federation (MSF), the student wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), stormed in, demanding immediate action against the teachers involved. Protesters also alleged that students were locked in a room to prevent them from continuing their event.
Further compounding the situation, members of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) also organized demonstrations at the school premises, echoing the demands for accountability and condemning the teachers’ intervention.
Local police were swiftly deployed to manage the protesting crowds and ensure the safety of the campus. Personnel remained stationed at the school to prevent any further untoward incidents. Officials have indicated that the PTA is actively working towards resuming the arts festival and finding a constructive resolution to the issues that have arisen.