Police investigation starts in 'freak' CUSAT stampede

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Higher Education Minister R Bindu has sought a report from the Vice Chancellor and the Principal Secretary of Higher Education regarding the CUSAT stampede that took the lives of four. The higher education department and the police have started an investigation.

A special team headed by Thrikkakara Assistant Commissioner of Police P A Baby has also started an investigation into the security lapse. The police will crane their neck into issues such as the college officials not arranging adequate security measures during the music event and the police not being informed about the issue despite the college management knowing about the swelling crowd.

Forensic experts examined the amphitheater on the CUSAT campus and a mahazar was also recorded. Statements will be taken from the Vice-Chancellor, teachers, injured students and participants of the programme.

The organizers of the music festival will also be included in the accused list. Kalamassery police have registered a case of unnatural death based on the statements taken from the injured students who continue being in the hospital. The police presaged nothing more than a small conflict between students on Saturday since there were some ensuing fights between different political student organizations in CUSAT. According to the preliminary report, not allowing students to get inside the event at proper time intervals led to the stampede.