Kerala College Student Falls Prey to Ragging and Physical Abuse, Resulting in Kidney Damage

In a gory incident in Kottayam, Kerala, a first year student of the Government Polytechnic College has been injured internally after eight senior students ragged him in a cruel manner. He was hospitalised with kidney damage and underway treatment, police said on Sunday.

According to police officials, the student has been diagnosed with kidney damage after he got admitted to a hospital in Thrissur. Doctors have recommended dialysis for his kidney injury.

The victim was subjected to injury when the accused allegedly forced him to drink liquor mixed with some harmful powder. The victim was reportedly subjected to six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.

However the eight accused students from the institute at Nattakom in the district are missing after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel. Five out of the eight accused have surrendered, while the police is on the lookout for the remaining.

Early this month, the accused were booked for ragging first year pupils in the hostel attached to the polytechnic. The institution has suspended them.

The victim underwent dialysis three times after his admission in the hospital ten days ago, police said. Police in Chingavanam in the district is looking into the case.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy paid visit to the student at the hospital in Thrissur. Chandy has asked the government to sponsor money for the expenses incurred during the student's treatment.

Also, in two separate complaints lodged with police, two students, including the one currently undergoing treatment at the Thrissur hospital, had alleged that they were subjected to brutal ragging by their seniors at the institute.

The other student is admitted to a private hospital in Eranakulam, police said. It is to be noted that the accused in both the incidents are members of the same group. Two cases have been registered against them, police said, adding that investigation is underway. Meanwhile, the state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.

Educational institutions must show zero tolerance for ragging