The incident raises concerns about anti-ragging enforcement in Kerala’s institutions. Ragging is punishable under the Prohibition of Ragging Act 2011. Police are investigating further to uncover additional victims, perpetrators, and any institutional lapses
Published Feb 13, 2025 | 3:38 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 13, 2025 | 9:55 PM
Ragging and harassment. Representative Image. (iStock)
Synopsis: Kerala’s reputation for high educational standards has been marred by shocking visuals from the Government Nursing College in Kottayam, revealing a brutal ragging incident. Police are investigating further, following UGC guidelines and the Raghavan Committee Report. The probe includes questioning more students and examining devices that recorded the incident. A case has been filed against the accused under the Anti-Ragging Act
Kerala’s reputation as a state that upholds high cultural and educational standards has taken a severe hit after shocking visuals emerged from the Government Nursing College in Kottayam, exposing a horrific case of ragging inside the hostel.
The footage, captured by the perpetrators themselves, reveals the inhuman and barbaric torture inflicted on a junior student, sparking widespread outrage.
The visuals, which surfaced recently, show the victim tied to a bed with his hands and feet restrained while senior students laugh and humiliate him.
A liquid like substance, said to be lotion, was smeared all over his body before they proceeded to prick him repeatedly with a sharp divider.
The footage captures the accused counting “one, two, three” before each prick, as the helpless student screamed in pain.The tormentors mockingly referred to him as a “sexy body” while subjecting him to relentless abuse.
In a particularly disturbing scene, the seniors are seen pouring lotion into the victim’s mouth and eyes while dismissing his agony with jeers. “If your eyes are burning, close them,” they can be heard saying.
The footage also shows dumbbells being placed on the student’s private parts, intensifying the brutality. One of the accused is heard saying, “I will draw a circle,” before placing the divider on the victim’s navel and drawing a circle.
Despite the junior student’s desperate pleas—”Enough, it hurts”—the seniors showed no mercy, continuing their sadistic acts.
Five senior students of the nursing college—Samuel Johnson (20) from Valakam, Kottayam; Rahul Raj (22) from Vandoor, Malappuram; Jeeva (18) from Nadavayal, Wayanad; Rijil Jith (20) from Payyanad, Manjeri, Malappuram; and Vivek (21) from Koruthodu, Kottayam—were arrested earlier and remanded after being produced in court.
The police have launched a deeper investigation to determine if there are more victims, perpetrators, and any lapses on the part of the college authorities.
Kottayam District Police Chief Shahul Hameed A IPS stated in a press conference that more students will be questioned and their statements will be recorded as part of the probe.
The investigation will be conducted in line with the recommendations of the Raghavan Committee Report and UGC guidelines on anti-ragging. The police will also subject the mobile phones of the accused, as well as any devices that recorded the ragging incident, to scientific examination.
A case has been registered against the accused under the Anti-Ragging Act for assault, injury, and extortion. More charges may be added as the investigation progresses. The police are also examining whether drug use was involved, though no such complaints have been received so far.
The incident came to light when a student filed a complaint with the college authorities on 11 February, following which the matter was handed over to the police. The accused students were suspended on the same day. Among the arrested students is Rahul Raj, a leader of the Kerala Government Students Nurses Association.
The role of the college administration in handling the incident will also be scrutinised as part of the investigation.
It has to be noted that ragging is punishable under the Prohibition of Ragging Act 2011 and whosoever, directly or indirectly, commits or participates in or abets or propagates ragging within or, outside any educational institution shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment or with fine or with both.
The principal of the Govt Nursing college, Kottayam, Sulekha, has asserted that there was no lapse in handling the recent ragging incident on campus.
She emphasized that no complaints had been raised previously and assured that strict action would be taken against those responsible.
Addressing concerns about hostel supervision, the principal clarified that the facility does not have a full time warden, with a faculty member serving as the assistant warden instead.
During nighttime hours, housekeeping staff oversee hostel activities. She added that a detailed explanation would be sought from the hostel in charge regarding the incident.
As part of the college’s response, a parents’ meeting has been scheduled for next week to address the situation and discuss further measures.
Opposition leader V D Satheesan has strongly criticised the CPI(M) over the ragging incident, drawing parallels with the tragic case of Siddharthan, a student of Wayanad’s Pookode Veterinary University who allegedly died due to brutal ragging by his seniors.
Satheesan accused the ruling party and its student organisations of shielding the perpetrators in both cases.
He alleged that the first-year nursing students had been subjected to months of physical and mental torture by their seniors, including a leader of the Kerala Government Student Nurses Association, a pro-CPI(M) body.
He also claimed that these seniors extorted money from juniors for alcohol consumption.
“The government protected the SFI leaders and teachers responsible in Siddharth’s case. Now, we see a similar trend in Kottayam, where political protectors embolden criminals,” he said.
Satheesan warned that political cover-ups would only encourage further crimes and called for strict action against those responsible, including hostel wardens and faculty members who failed in their duties.
He also linked the issue to the growing drug menace in Kerala, arguing that unchecked ragging and substance abuse in educational institutions could lead to criminal networks thriving under political patronage.
Urging the government to ensure an impartial probe, he cautioned against repeating the alleged lapses in the Siddharthan case.
(Edited by Ananya Rao with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
