Thiruvananthapuram, April 28 (ANI): A statewide shutdown called by several Dalit organizations over the death of BDS student Nithin Raj at Ancharakandi Dental College led to widespread protests and disruptions across parts of Kerala on Tuesday.
In Adoor, in Pathanamthitta district, clashes between protesters and police were reported in the morning, after which more demonstrators gathered and forced shops and banks to shut down. Police intervened to prevent further escalation.
In Kottayam, members of a Dalit organization blocked a Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus, disrupting public transportation services in the area.
The protests follow the death of first-year BDS student Nithin Raj, who died April 10 after falling from a building at the college.
The Prestige Educational Trust, which manages the institution, has denied allegations of caste-based discrimination and harassment, calling them “completely baseless.”
According to the trust, the incident was linked to a personal loan taken by the student through a mobile application. It said a faculty member had been receiving calls from loan recovery agents because her number was listed as a reference. The management stated that Nithin left the principal’s office during discussions about the issue and later fell from the building.
Police have registered a case against two faculty members, Dr. M.K. Ram and K.T. Sangeetha Nambiar, under charges including abetment of suicide and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, following allegations in the case.
A separate case has also been filed against a loan app for alleged harassment, with three people arrested in connection with the matter.
The student’s family has alleged that the death was a planned murder and has held the college authorities responsible.
Advocate Vinod Ragavan appeared for the family, while counsel V. Jaikrishnan represented the accused. The court is expected to decide on the bail plea Friday. (ANI)
About The Author
