Student blinded in one eye after drunk gang storms Venjaramoodu College Fest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A festive college celebration turned into a scene of horror at the MA College of Engineering in Venjaramoodu, where a violent assault by an intoxicated gang left a student permanently blinded in one eye. Several other students sustained injuries in the unprovoked attack, which took place last Sunday.

The primary victim, identified as Al Ameen, a resident of Chempazhanthy (Chenkottukonam), completely lost vision in his left eye after being repeatedly struck with a knuckle duster. Despite video footage of the incident surfacing, local police are facing intense scrutiny for their failure to apprehend the suspects nearly a week after the incident.

The incident unfolded during the college day celebrations when an outside group of over twenty individuals barged into the campus auditorium. According to eyewitnesses, the intruders unleashed a wave of violence without any provocation, using plastic chairs and knuckle dusters to assault anyone in their path. Al Ameen was targeted when he attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation. Attackers reportedly struck him multiple times in the face with a spiked knuckle duster, causing catastrophic trauma to his eye.

The student community has levelled serious allegations against both the college administration and local law enforcement. There are growing suspicions that a few internal students facilitated the entry of the attackers, some of whom reportedly have documented criminal backgrounds.

Students have expressed deep resentment toward the college authorities, citing a persistent lack of security measures to restrict outsiders from entering the campus. Furthermore, the administration is facing backlash for allegedly failing to provide timely medical assistance or arrange transportation to the hospital for the injured students immediately after the brawl.

The Venjaramoodu police have registered a case against three identified individuals—Shivajit, Nithin, and Kashinath—along with four recognisable others. However, despite seven days passing since the brutal assault, law enforcement has made no arrests, triggering widespread public criticism over their apparent inaction.