Wayanad: Amid several controversies erupting in connection with the death of Sidharth, a second-year BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) student who was found dead at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus in Pookode, Wayanad, the College Dean, Dr. MK Narayanan, said that there was no failure from his part. Veterinary College Dean Dr. MK Narayanan also commented that the Dean’s job is not a ‘Security’ service.
The Dean mentioned a lack of ‘Resident Tutor’ in the hostel, stating that it was not an issue until a problem arose. He also made a strange justification, stating that he could not visit the hostel every day.
Dean MK Narayanan said that on February 18, the day of the incident, the Assistant Warden was also not in the hostel, as he was on another duty. The Assistant Warden was in charge of accompanying students from the college to the Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Face-to-face ‘Mukhamukham’ programme at Kozhikode. The Dean added that he came to know about the incident over the phone at around 1.40 pm from the Assistant Warden, who was at the time in Kozhikode. The Dean said that upon receiving the information about Sidharth’s suicide attempt, he visited the hostel and found students waiting there for an ambulance to take Sidharth to hospital after informing the police.
The Dean also mentioned that he made arrangements to inform Sidharth’s parents. He added that they made all efforts to save the student’s life, but in vain. He then said that as there were no official vehicles on the day of the incident, he used another student’s vehicle to visit the hospital following the ambulance. Within after 10 minutes of confirming Sidharth’s death by doctors, the information was passed to Sidharth’s relatives by one of his student as per his instruction. According to the Dean, this arrangement was made because he was discussing further procedures with the doctors at the hospital.
MK Narayanan added that it is not fair to insist that the Dean should inform about each and every thing. He then mentioned that he received a written explanation from the Assistant Warden that no assault had occurred there. He said that Sidharth had not informed anything about the assault to the college authorities or his parents.
According to police reports, problems erupted on February 14th in connection with Valentine’s Day celebrations at the college. Some of Sidharth’s seniors brutally beat and insulted him publicly for dancing with senior girl students. Subsequently, on February 18th, Sidharth was found dead, hanging in the hostel bathroom on the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University campus in Pookode.
Initially, the police lodged a case of unnatural death. However, the case took a turn when the National Anti-Ragging Cell received a complaint. Sidharth’s classmates testified that Sidharth was a victim of ragging. According to witnesses, before he was found hanging, Sidharth was called by his seniors and assaulted again. He was subjected to extreme brutality, stripped naked in front of 130 hostel students, and beaten with iron rods, wires, and belts. The post-mortem report revealed that Sidharth’s backbone, head, and various parts of his body were injured.
Meanwhile, there is significant criticism against the Dean and college authorities. It is reported that Dean Dr. MK Narayanan is favouring SFI attackers by providing them security and covering up their violent acts. ABVP are organising protests and are demanding action against college authorities who have sided with the criminal students.
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