Faculty members accused in Kannur Dental College student’s death move court for anticipatory bail

Kannur (Kerala), Apr 17 (PTI) Two faculty members of Kannur Dental College accused in the death of a BDS student, allegedly following harassment over his caste and complexion, have approached a court seeking anticipatory bail.
    The bail petitions were filed by Dr M K Ram, Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, and Associate Professor Dr Sangeetha Nambiar.
    Nithin Raj R L (22), a first-year BDS student of the private dental college at Anjarakandy here, was found critically injured after falling from a building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.
    Police have registered a case against the two faculty members for abetment of suicide and under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following allegations that Raj was harassed over his caste and complexion.
    On Friday, Judge Vimal J, in-charge of the Principal District and Sessions Court, considered both the petitions.
    The court decided to hear the petitions on April 22.
    Ram and Nambiar could not be traced by the police after the case was registered against them.
    Meanwhile, the Kerala University of Health Sciences officials are at Kannur Dental College hearing the grievances of students and parents as part of an enquiry ordered following the death of Raj.
    Apart from the police case, the Kerala SC/ST Commission, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, the Kerala State Youth Commission, the Kerala University of Health Sciences and the Medical Education Department are conducting separate enquiries.
    Following protests by students at the college, the institution's management terminated Ram's service on Thursday.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)