After death of 20-year-old at Kerala college, claims that he was mercilessly ragged by members of CPI(M)’s student outfit

Twelve students, including his classmates and seniors, were suspended from the university, which acted on the report of an anti-ragging cell. Those suspended included the college union president, a union member, and the SFI unit secretary.

Wayanad police on Wednesday arrested six students, though officers say SFI leaders are absconding. The police, which initially registered a case of unnatural death, have now framed charges under IPC sections of abetment to suicide, wrongful restraint and voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, as well as the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act.

Sidharthan’s father T Jayaprakash told the media that the SFI had a grudge towards his son. “He was not involved in campus politics. We learned from students that he had danced with senior colleagues during a Valentine’s Day programme on February 14. Irked over this, a group of students manhandled my son. He was returning home the next day. On his way home, Sidharthan was called back to the hostel at the behest of SFI leaders. For the next three days, they stripped and tortured him. They did not allow him to eat or drink. His stomach was empty as per the post-mortem report. Police tried to hush up the case, but were forced to probe only after the forensic surgeon indicated about the wounds on the body,” he alleged.

He said his son would not have ended his life. “Two hours before his death, he had called his mother. We suspect he was tortured and hanged,” he alleged.

Congress’s V D Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition, who visited the family, alleged, “Sidharthan was murdered after brutal torture. He faced inexplicable and unbelievable cruelty from SFI goons at the university. The university and police tried to cover up the role of the SFI. If police do not arrest all the accused, UDF (United Democratic Front) would launch a strong agitation.”

Union Minister of State for External Affairs and BJP leader V Muraleedharan alleged there is a bid to project the incident as a suicide due to the involvement of SFI activists.

According to sources, the anti-ragging cell of the university received complaints from students alleging that Sidharthan had been ragged by over a dozen students at the hostel on February 16, two days before his death. The anti-ragging committee reported this to the police on February 22, and 12 students were suspended from all academic activities of the college, sources said.