| The state, which ranks 4th nationwide in such cases, has registered a seven-year high in 2016
The recent ragging incident in Kerala in which a student suffered kidney damage, is one of many that the state’s institutions have registered this year. In comparison to other states also, Kerala has the fourth highest number of ragging incidents this year, with Uttar Pradesh topping the chart with 92 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh 56 and West Bengal 49.
Meanwhile, five of the seven students accused in the December 2 ragging incident have surrendered before the police. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has also sought a report from the education department on the alleged ragging incident.
Thirty-four cases of ragging at various educational institutions were registered in Kerala in the year 2016, highest since the year 2009. According to the data provided by University Grants Commission (UGC), the number of cases have been on a rise in the state since the last three years– while in the year 2014, 17 cases were registered, the number came up to 34 in the year 2016. In the year 2009, the number was just eight.
The numbers have jumped despite strict rules and regulations in place. The UGC had in the month of February this year issued a circular to all universities and institutions to implement the anti-ragging regulations and take strict action against those flouting the guidelines. It was also made mandatory for all educational institutions to incorporate in their prospectus the directions of the government regarding anti-ragging.
Kerala government’s own rules also suggest punishments from penalties to suspension. All that has however failed in curbing incidents of ragging in the state.
On the night of December 2, eight first-year students of the polytechnic at Nattakom in Kottayama district were allegedly subjected to brutal ragging by a gang of senior students at the men’s hostel of the college.
Two students—one hailing from Irinjalakkuda in Thrissur district, and another from Cheranallur in Ernakulam district—were seriously injured in the incident. They have been admitted to hospitals in Thrissur and Ernakulam respectively. The student from Irinjalakkuda has been hospitalised with kidney damage, police officials said. The victim had to undergo dialysis three times, after his admission in the hospital 11 days ago. The accused allegedly forced the victim to consume liquor mixed with some harmful powder following six hours of brutal ragging which included hard physical exercises like push-ups.
The accused were absconding after police booked them for allegedly ragging their juniors in the hostel. They have also been suspended from the institution. Two cases have been registered against the accused based on two separate complaints by the two students. |