Kottayam nursing college horror: Video of brutal ragging by seniors surfaces

KOTTAYAM: First-year students at the govt nursing college here were subjected to horrific torture, as revealed in the video footage that emerged after the arrest of the five accused on Thursday. In the visuals, the seniors are seen laughing while the victims cry out in pain during the physical assault. Five senior students were arrested in the incident. The juniors were subjected to brutal physical assault during the three months.

In the video footage that came out on Thursday, one junior student's hands and legs are tied to a cot. Clips used to dry clothes are attached to the chest. Seniors are seen enjoying themselves by holding and pulling these clips. Cream and lotion are seen poured all over the body. The seniors are also seen stabbing various parts of the body using the divider in the instrument box and also drawing circles on the stomach.

When the junior cried out in pain during the divider attack, the seniors are seen enjoying themselves by pouring cream into his mouth. Spectacles are removed, and an object appearing like a cream is being rubbed on the face. The junior is also seen writhing as dumbbells are placed on top of the private parts of the student, and seniors are seen laughing at this. The seniors made the victims record the video. From the visuals, one can hear the scared victims who are recording the video speaking to the seniors. In the video that has come out, there are signs of bleeding from a wound on the foot of the victim.

The housekeeper who was on duty round-the-clock in the hostel was not aware of this, which is dubious. One among the accused is a leader of the Left students' outfit. This also stopped the juniors from raising a complaint earlier. Rahul Raj, one of the accused, is the state secretary of the Left-leaning Kerala Govt Students Nurses Association. He was expelled from the association following the incident.

Meanwhile, Kottayam district police chief Shahul Hameed said that it will be probed whether there was any flaw on the part of the college authorities or hostel warden. It will also be probed whether there are more victims. If found, a detailed statement will be taken from them. He also said that further action in the case will be based on the UGC guidelines and Raghavan Committee report on ragging. The phone from which the video was received will be examined. It is clear from the probe that the money was collected from the juniors for drinking. It will also be examined whether the seniors indulged in using other narcotic substances.

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