Kottayam (Kerala) [India]: Students from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) staged protests on Friday over an alleged ragging incident at Kottayam Government Nursing College.
Visuals from the protest showed students breaking through police barricades, leading the police to use water cannons to control the crowd. The demonstrations were led by the BJP-affiliated ABVP and the CPI(M)-backed Students’ Federation of India (SFI), both demanding justice for the victims of ragging.
Protests and Student Clashes with Police
During the protest, students clashed with the police, breached barricades, and questioned the authorities over their handling of the ragging case.
The SFI distanced itself from the incident, stating that its union was not active at the college. Union representatives argued that while their group was being accused, the real culprits had yet to be identified, urging the police to conduct a thorough investigation.
Arrests & Investigation
Earlier on Wednesday, police arrested five students from Kottayam Government Nursing College in connection with the case. They were remanded to police custody for two days.
According to the victims, the ragging had been ongoing for nearly three months, beginning in November, soon after the first-year students started classes. The police are investigating whether more students were involved.
Government Response
Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George confirmed that the five arrested students had been suspended from Kottayam Nursing College. She assured that the state government would take strict action against them.
“DME has received a preliminary report from the nursing school, and this (ragging) happened in their hostel. The students belong to the general nursing school. I asked DME to send a team of higher officers, and they are now in Kottayam. The nursing school has already suspended these students. It is very brutal. The government will ensure maximum action,” she said.
She also pointed out the warden’s responsibility, stating, “When senior students enter the juniors’ hostel, the warden should be aware. They, too, are responsible.”
Another Ragging Case in Kannur
In a separate incident, a Class 11 student from PRM Higher Secondary School in Kolavallur (Kannur district) was allegedly tortured by five senior students.
According to the FIR, the victim was beaten and suffered a fractured left arm after allegedly failing to show respect to his seniors. The attack took place on February 12.
A police complaint has been filed, and Kolavallur police have registered a case against the five senior students. The victim is currently hospitalized at Cooperative Hospital in Thalassery.
Police are continuing their investigation to determine if more students were involved in the attack.