Kerala govt announces CBI probe into death of veterinary student in Wayanad
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday decided to refer to the CBI the investigation into the recent death of a Veterinary University student that has rocked the state.
A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that the father and relatives of the student - 20-year-old Sidharthan J S - came to meet Vijayan and demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The chief minister told them that the police investigation was going on and all the accused had already been arrested through a flawless and fair probe, the statement said.
However, as the victim's mother has also submitted a petition seeking a CBI probe, Vijayan informed the family that he has decided to leave the investigation of the case to the CBI, respecting their sentiments, it said.
The statement came shortly after the victim's father told reporters here that Vijayan assured him that the case would be handed over to the CBI if it is required.
The father said that he met the chief minister today and sought a CBI probe into the death of his son who was found hanging inside the bathroom of the college hostel on February 18.
"The CM said that if a CBI probe is required, then it will be ordered. He has given me that assurance," the victim's father said.
He also said that he informed Vijayan that in view of the injuries suffered by his son, as noted in the post mortem report, many doctors have said that Sidharthan could not have even stood up to hang himself.
"Therefore, I told the CM that my son was killed and it was not a suicide," he said.
He also told reporters that the mere suspension of the Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookode in Wayanad district of the state and the assistant warden of the hostel, where Sidharthan died, was not enough.
"They should be dismissed from service and should also face legal action," he demanded.
He said that if the probe is handed over to the CBI, he has a lot more to tell that agency about the dean and the assistant warden.
The police in its remand report regarding one of the accused in the case had told a court recently that the victim was assaulted viciously.
The report said that a belt and a cable wire were used to assault Sidharthan.
It said that his classmates and senior held a public trial inside the hostel alleging that he had misbehaved with a girl student of the college.
"He was stripped down to his underwear and the accused assaulted him. Some of them used a belt and a cable wire," the report said.
It said that the assault began on February 16 at around 9 PM and lasted till 2 AM on February 17.
Police have charged the 18 accused in the case under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon), 306 (Abetment of suicide), of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Kerala Prohibition Of Ragging Act.
Sidharthan was a second-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student.
His parents have claimed that some of his college mates told them that he was beaten to death by some local SFI leaders and activists.
The father contended that according to the postmortem report, his son's body had injuries and an empty stomach, indicating that he was brutally beaten up and not given any food.
Sidharthan's death has led to widespread protests against SFI and the ruling Left government by the Congress-led opposition and its various wings.
The opposition and the BJP alleged that the ruling CPI(M)'s student wing SFI beat Sidharthan to death.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) has denied the allegations.
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Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India calls current situation 'no war, no peace'
Bengaluru (PTI): Representative of Iran's Supreme Leader in India, Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi on Saturday characterised the ongoing tensions between his country and the Israel-US alliance as a state of “no war, no peace”.
Calling for an immediate halt to the conflict, he said the global stability hinges on those who initiated the war.
He questioned why countries affected by the war and suffering from the energy crisis are not pressuring the US and Israel to stop the aggression.
Addressing a press conference here, Ilahi said Iran did not want the conflict, but was compelled to respond amid continued attacks, even as negotiations were expected to continue.
"Iran didn't want this war, but Iran was forced by the war and several times Iran tried to avoid this war... I don't know what is the condition of these people and these countries (US-Israel)... they want to impose on other countries what they want, and who gave them this authority?" he questioned.
Recalling the negotiations Iran held in Oman, he said talks later moved to Geneva and made progress before being disrupted by sudden attacks.
Ilahi claimed that airstrikes and missile attacks led to the deaths of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, ministers, commanders and civilians.
"They killed a lot of civilians… They attacked a primary school, and they killed 175 innocent girls," he said, claiming over 4,000 deaths, more than 40,000 injuries, and widespread damage to houses, hospitals, universities and public infrastructure.
Despite these losses, he said Iran resisted calls for “unconditional surrender” and stood firm and defended itself.
"They wanted unconditional surrender. Which no one—no one can accept it. Iran said, 'Okay, we are ready to be sacrificed,' but we are not ready to submit ourselves," he added.
He argued that they (US-Israel) proposed the current ceasefire only after realising that they could not achieve any of their objectives after 40 days of conflict.
The envoy further claimed that the ceasefire is not an actual ceasefire, but a “no war, no peace” situation.
Explaining the current situation in Iran, he said conditions remain stable and people are going about their daily lives.
"They are working ....(leading) their ordinary life. They are working—they're going farming and they do everything....and they aren't scared of anything. And they are ready to defend themselves," he added.
Addressing the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, he said the situation was stable before February 28 and all countries benefited from it.
"(For) 10,000 years, the Strait of Hormuz was open...and Iran daily yearly spent a lot for providing security in the Strait of Hormuz... so no one even complained anything about the Strait of Hormuz. Everyone was free...and even our enemies their warship was passing through the Strait of Hormuz," he said.
However, he linked the current maritime instability to the actions of the US and Israel.
"So Iran cannot do anything. Those people who initiated, created and started this war, they have to stop it. And everything will go back to normal," he said.
Criticising the mentality of the "great powerful country", Ilahi said, "they think they have the right to do whatever they want. It should change."
He sought to know why the countries affected by the conflict are not exerting pressure on the US and the "Zionist" regime to halt the war.
"Why are they not asking them? This crisis and problem by which a lot of countries are affected was created by them. A lot of factories are closed and even working days in some countries reduced... A lot of restaurants are closed," he said.
Seeking fairness and justice, Ilahi said instead of asking Iran, all those nations should ask those who initiated this war to stop it, by telling them, "we are suffering."
To a query on international mediation, Ilahi, referring to the US, asked, "Is it acceptable and reasonable that one country orders all countries -- you should not deal with this country, You should not purchase from this country. You should not have business with this country. You should not buy from this country."
Ilahi also highlighted Iran's long-standing ties with India and said, "It is a great country and we respect India and Indians."
"We have 5,000 years relationship and friendship. We are connected to India by education, by philosophy, by culture, by civilisation and by the economy," he said.
According to him, the bilateral cooperation remains strong, citing diplomatic engagement.
"At the moment also, our relationship, collaboration, cooperation with India is very good," he said, adding Iran allowing Indian ships to pass through Strait of Hormuz reflects the ties.
"Iran allowed Indian ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Why? A lot of countries couldn't get this permission?... The relationship between Iran and India is very good," he added.
He expressed confidence that in future too, the ties between Iran and India will be strong.
