'Made to drink water seniors spat': Two students allege brutal ragging in Kerala college

Thiruvananthapuram: In yet another instance of brutal ragging in Kerala, two first year degree students of the Kariyavattom government college in Thiruvananthapuram allegedly suffered brutal ragging and were also forced to drink water which some of the accused spat.

First year biotechnology student Bince Joseph and first year biochemistry student Abhishek suffered ragging allegedly from third year degree students.

The police have registered a case against seven students in connection with the assault. Sections of the anti-ragging act will be invoked once the college authorities give a formal report regarding ragging.

Joseph and Abhishek were allegedly assaulted by the senior students in the college campus on February 11. Joseph alleged that they were taken to a room in the college and beaten up and made to stand on their knees. When he asked for drinking water, the accused offered water which they (seniors) spat, alleged Joseph.

The accused were alleged to be part of CPI()M's student outfit Students' Federation of India.

Recently, six first year students of a government nursing college in Kottayam district had suffered brutal ragging from their five seniors.

Sharp objects were pierced on their body and weight discs were placed over their genitals. Video footage of the spine-chilling incident had also come out.

In another incident, a plus-one student at Kannur suffered a hand fracture allegedly in an assault by plus-two class students.

In the wake of the series of ragging allegations in Kerala, state higher education minister R Bindu has said that a state-level anti-ragging mechanism needs to be put in place.

Bindu said that all higher education institutions were repeatedly directed to ensure setting up of anti-ragging cell. A meeting of heads of all higher education institutions would be convened to discuss the matters. She also urged students to report to the cells or any teachers in case of any sorts of ragging.

After the reporting of many ragging instance from schools recently, state general education minister V Sivankutty had also said that the government would consider setting up anti-ragging cells in schools too.