Kannur, June 6 -- The Vice-Chancellor (V-C) of Kannur University has withdrawn a contentious order forming a special committee to monitor university programmes for alleged anti-national content following strong opposition from syndicate members and a protest by the Students Federation of India (SFI).

Tension erupted outside the university administration office on Thursday during a syndicate meeting, with the SFI activists staging a protest holding banners that read, " This is not a branch, this is a university." The protesters attempted to barge into the office, triggering a brief commotion.

The majority of syndicate members voiced opposition to Vice-Chancellor K K Saju's directive, prompting the V-C to announce its withdrawal during th...