ꦐAmid the spiraling row over the harrowing ragging incident at a government nursing college in Kerala's Kottayam, the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) on Friday claimed that the accused in the ragging case allegedly have connections with the Left student organization called Students Federation of India (SFI).
ไKerala police on Wednesday arrested five senior students of the nursing college in Kottayam. The victims, according to PTI, alleged that they were forced to stand naked and were subjected to brutal acts using dumbbells meant for weightlifting.
🐻Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu on Friday stated that stringent action would be initiated against the accused in the ragging incident, as per PTI.
Ragging, Extortion At Kerala College
🌳According to the police, the group of the five arrested students had been harassing first-year nursing students in the name of ragging since November 2024.
𓄧From stripping them naked to using dumbbells to torture them and injuring them using sharp objects like compasses- police told PTI that the official complaint has harrowing details of the violent acts of harassment.
ಞThe complaint also claimed that the seniors regularly extorted money from the juniors on Sundays to buy alcohol. Those who refused to comply were beaten. One student, unable to bear the harassment any longer, informed his father, who then encouraged him to approach the police.
The Alleged SFI Link
🌃Speaking to reporters, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan alleged that the accused in the Kottayam ragging case are members of SFI and that the Kerala Government Nursing Students Association (KGNSA) has links with the Left-affiliated student organization.
♈"Everyone knows they are SFI activists, yet they are now denying it," Satheesan said.
🎃Taking a swipe at SFI, Satheesan also alleged that its leaders and members were involved in the death of a student at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Pookode, Wayanad, last year allegedly due to ragging.
🐭"In the Pookode ragging case, SFI members were accused, yet they were allowed to appear for exams, and the only ones who suffered were the victim’s family," he said, adding that such incidents should not be repeated.
Kottayam College Ragging Row: Other Points To Know
As per a report by India Today𒐪, the five arrested third-year students have been identified as Samuel Johnson, NS Jeeva, KP Rahul Raj, C Rijil Jith, and Vivek NP.
🔥The accused have also been booked under Sections 118(1) (intentionally causing hurt using dangerous weapons or means), 308(2) (punishment for extortion), and 351(1) (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the police said.
🧸The arrested are currently in the district jail after being remanded by a court.
What Did The College Authority Say?
🙈The college principal reportedly took action after conducting an investigation under the Anti-Ragging Act. The complaint led to the suspension of all five students and their arrest under the Anti-Ragging Act. The arrested students are currently in police custody and are expected to be produced before a magistrate by Wednesday afternoon.
The Principal-in-charge, Dr. Lini Joseph said that the students had not informed the college about the ragging. “The parents called the class teacher to inform them about it. After receiving the complaint, a preliminary inspection was conducted and action was taken. A committee will be appointed today (February 12) for a detailed investigation. Decisions on further action against the students will be taken after that,” she said, as per a report by India Today.
