Nithin Raj’s death: As protests intensify, college dismisses faculty member

Kannur: Protests over the death of BDS student Nithin Raj of Kannur Dental College at Anjarakkandy have intensified with students and youth organizations conducting agitations inside and outside campus. Amid the protests, the college administration has decided to dismiss Dr M K Ram, the head of the dental anatomy department against whom Nithin had raised allegations. The decision was taken following discussions with the student's representatives. The students had earlier warned of indefinite boycott of classes until the action was taken. On Thursday, students of the college launched a massive protest on the campus, demanding strict action against Dr Ram. The agitating students alleged that Nithin had faced severe caste-based harassment by the department head. Students from all batches participated in the protest. They symbolically boycotted the white coats demanding justice for the victim. Outside the campus, DYFI workers conducted a protest march to Dr Dilna's Dental Clinic at Edakkad, owned by Dr Ram's wife. Despite the presence of police, DYFI activists vandalized the clinic's signage and installed a banner which read: "DYFI has shut down the caste-based discriminator's clinic". The protesters also clashed with the police. Youth League workers took out a protest march to Kannur city police commissioner's office, demanding immediate arrest of Dr Ram. Police fired water cannons multiple times to disperse the protesters. Meanwhile, police intensified search for Dr Ram and Dr Sangeetha Nambiar, the other faculty member charged with abetment to suicide in connection with Nithin's death. On April 10, Nithin, a first-year BDS student, was found critically injured on the college campus after falling from a building. He was later declared dead at the hospital. Besides abetment to suicide charges, police had registered a case against the two faculty members under sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.