The Kerala health department has suspended the principal and assistant professor of the Government College of Nursing in Kottayam, where a first-year student allegedly faced brutal ragging from seniors.
According to a statement from the health department, Sulekha A.T., the principal of the college and Ajeesh P. Mani, assistant professor/assistant warden-in-charge of the students’ hostel were suspended for dereliction of their duties. The staff were suspended pending inquiry for allegedly failing to check ragging and effectively intervene in the matter, a statement from Health Minister Veena George’s office said.
#WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala: On ragging case in Government Nursing College, Health Minister Veena George says, "DME has received a preliminary report from the nursing school, and this (ragging) happened in their hostel... I asked DME to send a team of higher officers, and… pic.twitter.com/ZlOY644efj
— ANI (@ANI) February 14, 2025
The state government has also removed the housekeeper-cum-security of the hostel with immediate effect. The health minister said the action was taken following an inquiry report submitted by the director of medical education.
A first-year student of the government college was allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by seniors of the college. The Kerala police have so far arrested five senior students in connection with the case.
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Visuals of the brutal incident that came to light showed the student being tied to a cot half-naked and allegedly pierced with a compass. The seniors also placed dumbell weights on the student’s genitals. The accused reportedly also poured facial cream into the student’s mouth. The incident took place in the hostel of the nursing college.
The Kerala police have so far arrested five third-year students – Samuel Johnson (20), Rahul Raj (22), Jeev (18), Rijil Jith (20) and Vivek (21) in connection with the case under the Prohibition of Ragging Act. The accused have been remanded. Students have reportedly complained that ragging has been happening at the institution for the past three months.
Congress, the opposition in Kerala has charged that the accused in the case have links with leftwing students’ organisation SFI.
