‘CBI probe announced to silence protesters'; Attempt is being made to tamper evidence, says Siddharth’s father

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jayaprakash, father of J S Siddharth, who died in Pookode Veterinary College, said that an attempt is being made to tamper the evidence. He said this while reacting to the reinstatement of the 33 students suspended by the anti-ragging squad over Siddharth's death. Jayaprakash told media that although a CBI probe was announced into his son's death, he suspects whether justice will be obtained.

‘These students were found by the anti-ragging squad and not me. There are attempts to tamper with evidence. There will be political influence behind this. They may have offered something to the VC. If the VC cannot do anything, will directly meet the chancellor and complain. Announcing the probe all of a sudden is to be suspected. It is suspected that this is to silence the protestors. As soon as the CBI investigation was announced, the police stopped their investigation. Now the two are not there,’ said Jayaprakash.

The final report of the anti-ragging committee on Siddharth's death was released the other day. The report has shocking information that Siddharth was subjected to eight months of harassment in the college. Siddharth was often harassed nakedly. The punishment for Siddharth was to appear in the room of K Arun, college union president and SFI unit committee member, every day.

Siddharth's popularity among students as a photographer was the reason for the harassment. The information that came out so far is that Siddharth was brutally harassed for three days in the college. However, the anti-ragging committee prepared the final report based on the statement collected including from Siddharth's classmate. The anti-ragging committee recorded the statements of 166 students. It is sad that the teachers involved in the anti-ragging committee was not aware of the harassment that lasted for eight months. Siddharth was tied to a pole and harassed on his birthday.