Siddharth's death: Four more arrested, 31 students debarred

KALPETTA: Four more SFI activists have been arrested in connection with the death of JS Siddharth, a student at Pookode Veterinary College. Apart from the accused who surrendered before the investigating officers on Thursday night, one person also surrendered in court yesterday.

Ameen Akbar Ali (25), a native of Malappuram and a fourth-year student, surrendered in the Kalpetta Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court. His arrest was recorded and was remanded. The arrest of college union president K Arun, union member Asif Khan and SFI unit secretary Amal Ishan, who was caught by the police, was also recorded yesterday. 11 people have been arrested so far. Four people are being interrogated by the police. About fifteen people are to be arrested. Yesterday, various opposition youth organizations took out a protest march to the Pookode University headquarters.

19 students debarred for 3 years

In connection with Siddharth's death, 19 students of Pookod Veterinary College were barred from studying in any of the recognzied colleges for three. 12 students were debarred from studying for a year. The college anti-ragging committee took the decision after collecting evidence from the students.

Dean's ignorance

• It is alleged that Dean Dr MK Narayanan was present in the college at the time of the incident but did not inform the police or interfered to stop the violence.
• Dean's office is just meters away from the hostel. Still, the relatives are asking why the violence was not stopped.
• Police will re-record Dr Narayanan's statement. The opposition is strongly demanding that Dean be implicated in the case
• Dean also failed to inform relatives about the violence. Minister Chinchurani's defense of the dean, who belongs to the CPI teachers' union, also became controversial