Investigating the Ragging Incident: Kerala Nursing College Authorities Under Scrutiny
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Synopsis
The investigation into a disturbing ragging incident at a Kottayam nursing college has begun, with five third-year students arrested. Authorities are examining their involvement and the circumstances surrounding the incident, which has raised significant public concern.
Key Takeaways
- Five third-year students arrested for ragging.
- Investigation into the authorities' involvement initiated.
- Footage of the assault aired, causing outrage.
- Students subjected to extreme humiliation and abuse.
- Questions raised about the warden's inaction.
Kottayam, Feb 13 (NationPress) Kottayam SP Shahul Hameed announced on Thursday that a comprehensive investigation has commenced regarding the ragging incident involving five third-year students from the state-operated Nursing College in Kottayam who have been taken into custody.
"We received the complaint on February 11, and the arrests were made the following day. We are currently examining the role of the authorities to determine if they were aware of the ongoing situation," stated Hameed.
On Thursday, disturbing footage of the vicious attack on defenseless first-year students aired on Malayalam television channels, causing widespread outrage.
The footage revealed senior students laughing and making inappropriate remarks while the victim was restrained to a bed and left unclothed.
"We have seized the mobile devices of the detained students. Our next step is to identify whose phone was used to disseminate the images," Hameed remarked, adding that all individuals have been charged under the Anti-Ragging Act.
"Currently, we have received only one official complaint, and we will investigate whether additional complaints exist," Hameed confirmed.
On Wednesday, the arrested third-year students—Rahul Raj, NS Jeeva, N. P. Vivek, Rigil Jeeth, and Samuel Johnson—were placed in judicial custody.
P. M. Arsho, President of the Students Federation of India's Kerala branch, condemned the actions as cruel, asserting they do not condone or shield students involved in ragging.
The arrests followed a first-year student's report alleging severe mistreatment.
The complainant revealed they were forced to remain unclothed, pictures were taken, and senior students marked their bodies with sharp objects.
Moreover, senior students reportedly extorted money from freshers for alcohol purchases.
As the abuse escalated, the first-year students chose to file a complaint.
What’s particularly alarming is that these events transpired in the hostel room, in proximity to the warden’s quarters. Concerns are being raised about the warden's inaction, as ragging has persisted for several weeks.
This incident coincides with a recent ruling from the Kerala High Court on February 6, which suspended a prior decision to re-admit 18 students from the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy, implicated in the suicide of junior student J. S. Sidharthan.
The division bench remarked, "students engaged in ragging are more reprehensible than those committing vandalism." Sidharthan's body was discovered in the hostel restroom on February 18, 2024, with allegations of suicide surrounding the case.
On Thursday, Sidharthan's mother, Sheeba, expressed her grief to the media, stating that witnessing the distress of nursing students on television led her to reflect on her son’s suffering.
