Ragging at Nursing College in Kerala: Junior student tortured, pierced with compass
Kottayam (Kerala), Feb 13 (PTI): The disturbing visuals of brutal ragging inflicted on junior students at the Government Nursing College by seniors surfaced on Thursday.
According to footage received by the Gandhinagar police, the victim was stripped naked and subjected to horrifying acts, including having dumbbells placed on his private parts after being tied to a cot and having facial cream poured into his mouth while his body was repeatedly pierced with a compass.
The junior student—lying on the bed with lotion all over his body and his hands and legs tied with a rope—screamed in pain, unable to move, according to the visuals aired by TV channels.
The senior students then pierced various parts of the junior student's body with a compass, counting aloud, "one, two, three".
As the victim screamed in pain, the accused mocked him, taunting and insulting him by calling him a "sexy body".
The video recorded by third-year students captured this brutal act of ragging, police said.
The abuse took place in the boys' hostel targeting first-year nursing students.
One of the arrested students was an office-bearer of a nursing student organisation, police said.
The police arrested five third-year students on Wednesday for allegedly ragging first-year students.
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.
Kottayam District Police Chief Shahul Hameed stated that police are investigating whether more students were subjected to ragging.
"The case has been registered based on a complaint from one student but we will record statements from others to determine if there are more victims," he said.
Speaking to reporters, Hameed added that the investigation will also examine whether there were any lapses on the part of the college authorities.
A case has been registered under the Prohibition of Ragging Act following a complaint that the ragging had been ongoing for nearly three months at the nursing institute, which operates under the Government Medical College.
The accused have also been booked under Sections 118(1), 308(2), 351(1), and 3(5) of the BNS, police said.
The accused students have been suspended, college authorities confirmed.
The complaint also stated that senior students regularly extorted money from juniors on Sundays to buy alcohol and frequently assaulted them.
On November 16, the accused allegedly forced a first-year student to transfer Rs 300 via Google Pay and hand over Rs 500 in cash under threats.
Police revealed that the money was used to purchase alcohol.
College authorities stated that the affected students had not informed hostel officials, teachers or parents about the abuse.
Upon receiving the complaint, the college promptly took action. After the allegations were confirmed during the investigation, the case was handed over to the police, they added.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
