'Geometry divider torture, lotion on wounds, dumbbells hung on private parts'; Netherworld of college ragging

Pookode ragging case in Kerala sent shivers right through the spine of most Malayalees. We had discussed the topic in detail and the culprits were arrested. Awareness was brought in and much ink was spilled in writing about the brutality of ragging. Albeit all these efforts, Kerala with every passing day is witnessing more gruesome cases of college torture and ragging.

Five third-year students of the Kottayam Government Nursing College, have been arrested for ragging their juniors inside the hostel in a barbaric style. Similar cases were also reported in Kozhikode Medical College and Kariyavattom Government College.

Ragging of older times was a harmless ritual-like setup to make freshers familiar with the college environment and it involved fun and no violence. Even the students of those times would fondly remember the things they were made to do by their seniors. But now, things have gone diabolical and ragging has undergone a definition change. Some of the act that comes with present-day college ragging would even put local criminals to shame.

A year ago, a boy named Siddharthan of Pookode Veterinary College was brutally tortured in the hostel by his seniors. The boy committed suicide in a last bid effort to escape from the torture. Kerala saw massive protests for the whole incident and the issue was deliberated and discussed much in the public domain. The anti-ragging law once again turned into a hot topic after the incident.

And now as per reports, the brutal torture that six junior students faced at the Kottayam Government Nursing is far worse than the Pookode episode.

All of the junior students were stripped naked and weights were hung on their genitals. Some students were tied up in bed and beaten badly. The juniors would often face harassment and torture from seniors who come to their rooms demanding money for buying liquor.

Another pastime was to cut bruises on junior students’ bodies and apply lotion on them. The accused, arrested in the ragging incident belong to the pro-ruling party organization. The news came out after one of the victims dialled home and revealed the torture they went through. If not for the phone call, the horrific news would have seen light of the day. The indifference shown by the college authorities in such incidents often helps the accused.

It is an open secret that college authorities are afraid of such criminals, who threaten back with their political prowess. The murkier games played by college authorities to protect the culprits in Pookode College incident are not lost on time.

It is high time all colleges have an anti-ragging cell which will enable students to report any incident of ragging to the police immediately. The hostel warden has special responsibilities as the college hostel is a breeding ground for such acts of harassment. The government should come forward with strict measures to make the campuses free from ragging.