Death of Sidharthan

Last updated
Death of Sidharthan
DateFebruary 18, 2024;11 months ago (2024-02-18)
Location Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Kerala, India
Inquiries Kerala Police investigations

On 18 February 2024, Sidharthan, a 20-year-old veterinary science student [1] [2] of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, was found dead in his hostel in Pookode, Wayanad, Kerala under suspicious circumstances. [3] [4]

Contents

Investigation

On 18 February, Sidharthan was found hanging in the washroom of his hostel. [5] An autopsy suggested that Sidharthan had died due to hanging, [6] and that prior to his death, Sidharthan had "sustained multiple blunt injuries" [6] and had not eaten. [5]

Following his death, the Students' Federation of India (SFI) [6] [7] [8] branch at the university was accused of ragging Sidharthan, which had led to his death; Sidharthan's parents accused the group of murdering him outright. [5]

According to police, there had been a "tiff" on 14 February [5] because Sidharthan had danced with some senior female students at a Valentine's Day event. [6] This escalated into "brutal assault" by a group of senior students in the courtyard of the hostel on 15 February. Sidarthan contacted his mother briefly on 16 February, saying he was not feeling well and was resting. [5]

The Special Investigation Team of Kerala Police arrested four SFI Kerala leaders on 1 March 2024. The SFI also fired the four. [9] [10] By 1 March, 11 people had been arrested in connection with the death, with 18 students accused in total. [6]

Reactions

Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan issued an order suspending the Vice-Chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) over Sidharthan's death on 2024 February 18. [11]

Kerala General Education minister V Sivankutty said that the government will take strict action against those behind the death of Sidharthan. [12]

Indian National Congress’s V D Satheesan, the Leader of Opposition, called on Kerala's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, to have the Central Bureau of Investigation investigate the death. [13]

The leadership of the Students' Federation of India visited Sidharthan's family and apologized for the conduct of SFI members at the University. [14]

Related Research Articles

Ragging is the term used for the so-called "initiation ritual" practiced in higher education institutions in India, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The practice is similar to hazing in North America, fagging in the UK, bizutage in France, praxe in Portugal, and other similar practices in educational institutions across the world. Ragging involves abuse, humiliation, or harassment of new entrants or junior students by the senior students. It often takes a malignant form wherein the newcomers may be subjected to psychological or physical torture. In 2009, the University Grants Commission of India imposed regulations upon Indian universities to help curb ragging and launched a toll-free 'anti-ragging helpline'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalpetta</span> Town in Kerala, India

Kalpetta is a City, town and a Grade 2 municipality in the Wayanad district of the Indian state of Kerala. Kalpetta is the headquarters of the Wayanad district, as well as the headquarters of Vythiri taluk. It is surrounded by dense coffee and tea plantations and mountains. It lies on the Kozhikode-Mysore National Highway NH 766 at an altitude of about 780 m above sea level. Kalpetta is 72 km (45 mi) from Kozhikode and 140 km (87 mi) from Mysore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Students' Federation of India</span> Students organisation in India

The Students' Federation of India (SFI) is an Indian left-wing student organisation that is politically aligned to the ideologies of Independence, democracy and socialism. Currently, V. P. Sanu and Mayukh Biswas are elected as the All India President and General Secretary, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy</span> Indian veterinary college

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences is a veterinary college located at Mannuthy, Thrissur city of the Indian state of Kerala. The college is part of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

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Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) is a university established by the Government of Kerala in December 2010 to further education, research and extension services in the field of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. The territorial jurisdiction of the university extends to the whole of the State of Kerala. Its headquarters is located at Pookode near Kalpetta in Wayanad District in Kerala State.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pookode</span> Village in Kerala, India

Pookode is a village in Vythiri Taluk in Wayanad district of Kerala state in India. Pookode is known for Pookode Lake and as the headquarters of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University.

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References

  1. ↑ "Six held in custody for ragging death of Wayanad Vet student". English.Mathrubhumi. 2024-02-28. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  2. ↑ "After death of 20-year-old at Kerala college, claims that he was mercilessly ragged by members of CPI(M)'s student outfit". The Indian Express. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  3. ↑ Assary, Gilvester (2024-02-29). "Vet University Student's Death Rocks Kerala". Deccan Chronicle . Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  4. ↑ "Death of veterinary student: College officials accused of laxity". English.Mathrubhumi. 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Raghunath, Arjun (2024-02-29). "Brutal ragging and mob trial led to student's death in Kerala". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "4 SFI members among 11 arrested in Kerala college student death". The Indian Express. 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  7. ↑ rashmi.kuttan. "Kerala student death case: SFI seeks apology from family of Sidharthan; police conduct evidence collection". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  8. ↑ Sreejith, K. S. (2024-03-04). "SFI, CPM under lens over Sidharthan death case". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  9. ↑ "Wayanad student suicide: Six arrested for college student's suicide". The New Indian Express. 2024-02-29. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  10. ↑ https://english.janamtv.com/news/kerala/97085/six-students-arrested-in-pookode-veterinary-college-students-death-case-12-others-including-sfi-leaders-abscond/
  11. ↑ "Governor to visit Pookode Veterinary University". English.Mathrubhumi. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  12. ↑ ഡെസ്ക്, സമകാലിക മലയാളം (2024-03-01). "'രാഷ്ട്രീയം നോക്കില്ല, പ്രതികൾ ആരാണെങ്കിലും പരമാവധി ശിക്ഷ ഉറപ്പാക്കും': സിദ്ധാർഥന്റെ വീട്ടിലെത്തി വി ശിവൻകുട്ടി". Samakalika Malayalam (in Malayalam). Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  13. ↑ "Congress leaders seek CBI probe into death of Sidharthan". The Hindu. 2024-03-03. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2024-03-04.
  14. ↑ "Sidharthan's death: SFI apologises". English.Mathrubhumi. 2024-03-04. Retrieved 2024-03-04.



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