Kerala Police have arrested five students from Gandhinagar Government Nursing College, Kottayam, in connection with a disturbing case of ragging that allegedly involved months of extreme physical and psychological torture. The first-year victims reported that the accused tied their hands and legs with cloth, inflicted deep wounds using compasses, poured lotion over their injuries to amplify the pain, and even used dumbbells to target their private parts. The victims also alleged that their seniors extorted money from them to buy alcohol, and when they refused, they were subjected to inhumane punishments, including being forced to kneel through the night while being slapped repeatedly. The Anti-Ragging Cell of the institution investigated the claims and suspended the accused students, identified as Samuel Johnson (Kottayam), Jeeva (Wayanad), Rijil Jith (Malappuram), Rahul Raj (Malappuram), and Vivek (Kottayam), all of whom were booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act.
According to the FIR, the ragging incidents had been ongoing since November 2024, right after the first-year students were admitted to the college. One of the most horrifying incidents took place on the night of December 13, when the accused allegedly stormed into the room of a complainant, tied him up, and inflicted wounds with sharp objects before pouring lotion over his injuries. Another student was allegedly forced to record the entire act as a means of psychological coercion. The victims also detailed further humiliations, including being forced to smear cream on their faces and into their mouths. The seniors allegedly threatened the victims with dire consequences if they reported the abuse. Investigators have recovered video evidence of the ragging from the accused students’ mobile phones, which will be submitted in court. The arrested students were produced before the Ettumanoor court and have been remanded to police custody for two days.
This case has come to light just days after the University Grants Commission (UGC) issued show-cause notices to 18 medical colleges across India for failing to implement anti-ragging regulations effectively. The incident has sparked widespread outrage, with calls for stricter enforcement of anti-ragging laws in educational institutions. Authorities are now under pressure to ensure that those responsible for such brutal acts are held accountable, and institutions are taking steps to reinforce anti-ragging policies. Kerala Police have assured that further investigations are ongoing, and additional action will be taken based on the findings.
