नेशनल
Summoned At 10 PM Each Night, Stripped Naked: The Brutal Ragging Kerala Students Endured For Months
New Delhi: More horrifying details have emerged in the ragging incident that has rocked a government college in Kerala. The torment of the six first-year students – they were stripped naked, dumbbells hung from private parts, stabbed with geometry box compasses – had been unfolding for nearly three months inside the men’s hostel by their seniors, even as postgraduate students and resident faculty members, housed in nearby rooms, remained unaware of the atrocities until a complaint surfaced.
Five third-year students of the General Nursing and Midwifery have been arrested subjecting their juniors to brutal physical and mental abuse. Some of the acts endured by the victims would shake the conscience of any observer.
At around 10.30 pm each night, the accused would reportedly summon the first-year students to their rooms via phone calls. The students – all residing on the ground floor of the men’s hostel, adjacent to the housekeeper’s room – would then report to their senior, who would then subject them to financial extortion and extreme ragging. Shockingly, despite being present 24/7, the housekeeper claimed ignorance of the months-long abuse, according to Malayala Manorama.
The students in their complaint have told the police that the senior students would regularly extort money from juniors on Sundays to buy alcohol and frequently assaulted them. The students were forced to transfer Rs 300 via Google Pay and some times in cash under threats.
‘Hands and Legs Tied, Lotion Poured Over Body’
On December 13, a first-year student was subjected to extreme torture. The accused barged into his room and tied his hands and legs, and restrained him.
They then poured lotion all over his body and inflicted injuries using a divider. They also forced another first-year student in the room to record the incident on a mobile phone.
Unable to endure the harassment any longer, three students finally lodged a complaint with the Kottayam Gandhinagar police.
History of abuse at Nursing College
While the college officials claim ignorance over the ragging incident, reports indicate that the nursing college in Gandhinagar has a disturbing history of continued abuse. Last academic year, a similar case of ragging was reported to the police. However, as the victim later withdrew the complaint, further legal action was stalled.
Accused Students Suspended, Inquiry Initiated
College officials suspended the students following an inquiry under the anti-ragging law, they said.
The arrested students have been identified as Samuel Johnson (20), Rahul Raj (22), Jeev (18), Rijil Jith (20), and Vivek (21).
According to the complaint, the ragging began in November last year.
