A disturbing case of ragging has emerged from a government nursing college in Kerala, where five third-year students have been arrested for allegedly subjecting their juniors to months of horrific physical and mental abuse. The scandal has ignited outrage and concern over student safety in educational institutions.
The incident unfolded at the Government Nursing College in Kottayam, following a formal complaint lodged by three first-year students from Thiruvananthapuram. The students reported a series of violent acts that began in November 2024 and persisted for nearly three months.
According to police reports, the first-year students were forced to stand naked while their seniors hung dumbbells from their private parts. The abuse escalated to include stabbings with sharp objects, including a compass from a geometry box. The torment did not end there; lotion was applied to their wounds, causing excruciating pain, and when they screamed, the lotion was reportedly forced into their mouths.
The seniors are accused of filming these acts and threatening the juniors with severe repercussions, including the endangerment of their academic careers, should they dare to report the abuse. Furthermore, the complaint alleges that the seniors extorted money from the juniors every Sunday to fund their alcohol purchases.
Those who refused to comply faced violent reprisals. One student, overwhelmed by the harassment, confided in his father, who encouraged him to seek help from the police. Currently, all five accused students are in police custody and are expected to be presented before a magistrate by Wednesday afternoon.
This shocking incident follows a recent tragedy in Kochi, where a 15-year-old schoolboy died by suicide, with his mother claiming that bullying by peers contributed to his tragic decision. The ripple effects of these events have raised urgent questions about the culture of ragging and the need for robust measures to protect students in educational environments.
