Eight students, all of them SFI activists, were suspended by CMS College authorities on Wednesday following their attempt to hold a "beef festival' on the campus. The event was organised in protest against the killing of a person at Dadri village in Uttar Pradesh and to declare solidarity with the six students at Kerala Varma College, Thrissur, suspended for holding a beef festival on the campus. Principal Roy Sam Daniel said the students were suspended for indiscipline and he was convinced that their action would lead to further troubles on the campus. "Students from all faiths are studying on our campus and we cannot allow some of them instigating others through offensive actions," he said. "Food is a means to satiate your hunger and not to blaze hatred," he said. Though he informed the police regarding the agitation, they were late in arriving at the scene and prevent the incident, he said. As such, he rushed to the spot and tried to prevent the students. However, he was pushed down by the students. It was against this backdrop that eight students were suspended from the college, he said. Meanwhile, Jake C. Thomas, SFI district secretary, said the event was part of a district-wide protest they had planned against communal forces. The first of these festivals was held at Government College, Nattakom, without any trouble. "Today too, there would not have been any trouble and the agitation was peaceful." He accused the Principal of creating a situation that led to the crisis.