Kidney damage in ragging: 5 Kerala polytechnic students surrender

With another student complaining of ragging by seniors in the same institute, five students surrendered before the police in connection with the two cases on Sunday.

A student of the Government Polytechnic in Kottayam has been hospitalised with kidney damage after being ragged by senior students. With another student complaining of ragging by seniors in the same institute, five students surrendered before the police in connection with the two cases on Sunday. S O Avinash, 22, has been hospitalised with kidneys damaged by torture at the college hostel. The police have registered a case for attempt to murder after it was revealed that Avinash had sustained serious injuries.

Avinash told the police that he was subjected to extreme physical exercise for about six hours on the night on December 3. The seniors allegedly forced him to drink liquor as part of the torture. He said he along with other juniors were forced to strip and asked to do push-ups and other exercises, including swimming on the hostel floor. He was also forced to drink liquor which, he said, was spiked with a white substance.

Avinash, a native of Thrissur district, was rushed to hospital in his home town, where he was admitted to the critical care unit. He even underwent dialysis. Avinash, who first returned to his home, had to be admitted to hospital after his condition worsened.

On Thursday, another junior doctor, Shaiju D Gopi, too complained of ragging, saying that he was forced do 50 push-ups and 100 sit-ups on December 2. Water was poured over him as part of ragging, he alleged.

The students further alleged that the polytechnic authorities failed to act against the seniors despite complaints. The police said three more persons were involved in the campus torture and they would be nabbed soon.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy visited the student at the hospital in Thrissur. Chandy urged the government to bear the expenses of the student’s treatment.

The state human rights commission has sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident. The accused have been suspended from the institution.

With PTI inputs

Shaju Philip

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

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