A campus march to protest an engineering student’s suicide at a private college in Kerala’s Thrissur took a violent turn Monday. Students, who were marching under the banner of Students’ Federation of India and Kerala Students Union, broke furniture inside the college. The SFI has also called for a statewide strike on Tuesday.
Jishnu Pranoy, 18, a BTech (Computer Science) student of Nehru College of Engineering in Thrissur, was found hanging in the bathroom of his hostel last Friday. According to police, Pranoy had been caught for alleged malpractice during an exam. He was taken to college office, where authorities threatened to debar him from the exam. That evening, he was found hanging, said police.
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Students allege that college PRO, Sajith Vishwanathan, son of Congress leader K P Vishwanathan, tortured Pranoy in his chamber. Pranoy’s father Ashokan said his son would not commit suicide without any provocation. He alleged that Jishnu was tortured and his body had several bruises.
Vice-principal of the college Dr A S Vardharajan said: “The agitation and social media campaign are meant to tarnish the image of the college.’’
Education Minister Prof C Raveendranath said a report has been sought from the V-C of the Science and Technology University.
Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India.
Expertise, Experience, and Authority
Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes:
Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration.
Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules.
Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More
