Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 31 (NationPress) A burnt corpse, believed to be that of a notable educationist, was uncovered on Tuesday morning in an incomplete building at P.A. Aziz College of Engineering located in the vicinity.

The authorities disclosed that the body was 80 percent charred. A mobile phone along with a vehicle owned by the college's proprietor, Mohammed Abdul Aziz Taha, were located in close proximity to the scene, intensifying the suspicions.

State Food Minister G.R. Anil, whose electoral district encompasses the college, voiced concerns regarding the enigmatic nature of the incident. "Only a DNA test will definitively ascertain the identity of the deceased," he remarked.

Witnesses reported having seen Taha on the college premises the night prior. Residents speculated that ongoing financial and administrative issues could have played a role in this event. "The college encountered significant obstacles after losing its accreditation and being downgraded to a polytechnic institution. Delayed salaries, accumulating debts, and difficulties for students in obtaining their graduation certificates have plagued the institution," stated a local individual present at the site.

According to various reports, two individuals had visited the college the previous day, causing a disturbance regarding a cheque-related matter.

The P.A. Aziz College of Engineering, founded in 2003 under the P.A. Aziz Trust, was one of the pioneering private engineering colleges established post-liberalization of professional education during the A.K. Antony administration. The college is affiliated with the University of Kerala and, since 2017, has also been linked with APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University under the Kerala government.

Nonetheless, similar to numerous private engineering colleges, it has experienced a notable drop in enrollment in recent years, leading to serious financial challenges. A number of such institutions have subsequently shut down across the state.

The local police have initiated a case of unnatural death and commenced an investigation. Additional information will be revealed as the inquiry unfolds.