Suspension of 18 Medical College students revoked

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Authorities at the

Thiruvananthapuram Medical College

have revoked the suspension of 18 students of the college. The students, including 10 girls, were suspended for an indefinite period on Tuesday following clashes over results of an arts festival held on September 30.

Medical

College

police have also registered a case against one student who was involved in the clash. Nine students of the 2012 batch, four students of the 2013 batch and five students of the 2014 batch were suspended by the college citing violation of disciplinary rules.

The students were exempted from suspension on Thursday and were allowed to attend regular classes on their assurance that they would maintain peaceful atmosphere inside the college premises and would resolve the rivalry between batches.

The decision was taken after a meeting between suspended students and the college principal Dr Thomas Mathew. It was taken in view of the forthcoming exams of the final year MBBS students.

Problems began with fake complaints filed by students of the 2014 batch, which ended up in police intervention and later in suspension of 18 students. According to students, the junior batch had allegedly filed fake complaints on ragging and abuse of a girl.

The police intervention and FIR charged against two students ignited the issue. The rift widened following clashes in connection with an arts festival, which led to suspension of the students.

In the Euphoria Arts Fest held at the

Medical College

last month, the 2013 batch emerged as the overall winners and from then on the rivalry between 2013 and 2014 batches flared up.

The inmates of girl's hostel had raised objection to suspension asking why students should be suspended for howling at each other on the night of the college arts fest. The enquiry commission had reported to college management that it was necessary to suspend the students from class and hostel to ensure a peaceful academic ambience in the campus.