Caste-based harassment: Dental student ends life, sparks outrage

KANNUR: A first-year BDS student, Nithin Raj, died by suicide after allegedly facing caste- and colour-based harassment by teachers at Ancharakandi Dental College in Kannur. Following the incident, the Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, Dr M K Ram, and Associate Professor Dr Sangeetha were suspended.

Nithin Raj, a native of Uzhamalakkal in Nedumangad, Thiruvananthapuram, was the son of Rajan, a painting worker, and Latha. He is survived by his sisters Rakhi and Nikhitha. The family lives in a rented house.

The family alleged that the department head had verbally abused Nithin, calling him derogatory names and insulting him based on his skin colour. Following these allegations, college principal Dr Vinod Mani took action and also formed a committee to investigate the incident.

On Friday, around 1:30 pm, a teacher called Nithin’s mother on the phone and told her that Nithin had met with an accident. The next day, Nithin’s brother-in-law Ashok Kumar, maternal uncle Vishwambharan, and paternal uncle Vijayan filed a complaint at the Chakkarakkal Police Station. Police have registered a case of unnatural death and started an investigation.

After the post-mortem at Government Medical College, Pariyaram, the body was kept for public viewing at the college and later taken to his hometown. The funeral will be held today.

A relative alleged that the hostel warden Kamal had also mentally harassed Nithin. He had earlier mentioned facing ragging during the initial period, but later had no issues with seniors.

Police dismiss loan app angle
There were also allegations that the college authorities initially tried to mislead the investigation. On Friday, they claimed that Nithin may have been trapped in a loan app and that it could be the reason for his death. However, police said no evidence related to any loan app was found in his room. According to Chakkarakkal Circle Inspector Fakrudeen, no financial transactions were found on his mobile phone either. The phone will be examined by the cyber police.

CCTV footage shows Nithin going up in the college lift. Police will record detailed statements from teachers and classmates.

Ashok Kumar, Nithin’s brother-in-law, said, “If there is any proof of a loan app, the college should release it. He died due to severe harassment by the department head.”