BDS student dies after fall in Kannur, Harassment allegations surface, 2 faculty suspended

Kannur: In an unfortunate incident, a first-year BDS student at Anjarakandy Dental College died after falling from a college building under suspicious circumstances.

While Police suspect suicide, the student’s parents have dismissed the possibility alleging that he was murdered and had been subjected to emotional and mental harassment by faculty members. According to the family, he was pushed from the third floor of the six-storey building, but the police said the preliminary findings point to suicide.

The family told the media that his son was emotionally and "verbally harassed" by teachers over his dark complexion and poor family background. They claimed that not only did the faculty members make racist remarks, but also called him 'slum dog' and 'rabid dog'.

While an inquiry has been launched into the case, the institution has suspended two professors - the Head of the Dental Anatomy department, and an associate professor, over allegations of mentally harassing the student.

Police have also launched a probe against faculty members after registering a case under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). An investigation is underway. 

As per PTI report, the student has been identified as 22 year old native of Uzhamalackal, Puthukulangara, Thiruvananthapuram who belonged to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.

According to police, the student was found critically injured near the medical college block after falling from the building on the afternoon of April 10. He was found lying on a stone-paved area between the administrative block and the hospital building on the campus at around 1.30 pm.  Though he was rushed to the medical college and given treatment, he later succumbed to his injuries.

Viral audio clip

Police said that the student had sent an audio message to his friends alleging harassment by faculty members, including threats of physical assault and academic repercussions such as reducing his marks in examinations.

As reported by HT, the student in the clip was heard telling his friend that one of the teachers threatened to chop his hands off if he stepped out of the college gates and that he would be forced to walk around like an invalid.

The audio clip, which has been marked authentic by his parents, captured him saying, "He called me an idiot. I said ‘same to you’. You have no idea what they said to me in the staff room. They threatened to chop my hands and feet off if I stepped outside the gates. He said he wanted to see me walk around without limbs. I said I would like to see him try. Teachers like Dr *** just stood and watched."

He further heard saying as reported by The News Minute, "I tolerated the insult as far as I could. They insulted my mother and her surgery. My answer sheet was distributed among students, pointing out my spelling mistakes."

Following the clip's circulation, the college initiated an internal inquiry and, on Saturday, suspended the two professors. Meanwhile, the police booked the two professors under under Section 3(1)(r) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Section 108 (abetment of suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). 

Officials at Chakkarakkal police station said a detailed probe is underway into the incident, with digital evidence being collected. Also, statements by the student's classmates, college authorities and family members will be recorded soon, police added.

Mental harassment, racist remarks

The deceased's father told reporters that his son was emotionally and "verbally harassed" by teachers over his dark complexion and poor family background.

"He worked hard without any support to secure admission on a merit seat in the dental college. But he was harassed by faculty over his caste and colour. They also threatened to harm him academically," he claimed.

"He was mocked by teachers for his dark skin, ridiculed for our work as daily wage labourers and targeted because he belonged to a Scheduled Caste," he told South First. 

His father further alleged that the head of the department repeatedly insulted him in front of his classmates and maintained a hostile attitude despite his academic performance.

His sister told local media on Sunday, "Prof ** has always targeted him and even called him a rabid dog. He was abused based on his dark skin and caste. In class, when he insults a student, he wants other students to laugh. And when certain students don’t laugh, he hits them.”

"We had complained earlier to the principal of the college, but he denied it. If the call records can be obtained by the cyber cell, everything will become clear. My younger brother would not commit suicide and was likely pushed off the building. He had video-called me on Thursday, too, and he seemed fine," she said.

The father said that they have lodged a complaint against the faculty members with the police and are expecting a fair probe into the death of his son.

His sister claimed that he had filed a complaint with the college principal, but no action was taken. "He used to tell us about such discrimination and harassment regularly. He was once called to the staff room where he was severely harassed," she alleged.

The sister also claimed that the student was once called a "slum dog" in the classroom in front of other students by a faculty member. "Once, when the harassment became unbearable, he reacted, after which the verbal abuse intensified," she added.

When contacted, college authorities told PTI that two faculty members had been suspended and that they were cooperating with the police investigation. "We will fully cooperate with the investigation and share all details. Further action will be taken based on the outcome of the police probe," an official said.

The body of the student was brought to his residence in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, and the cremation is expected to be held in the afternoon.

Kerala State Human Rights Commission seeks a report in a week

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission on Sunday directed the police to conduct a detailed probe into the death of the student and submit a report within a week. The Commission took a case on its own based on media reports.

Commission Judicial member K Baijunath issued directions to the Kannur City Police Commissioner to investigate the allegations surrounding the incident and file a report within the stipulated time, according to a statement.

Loan app angle

During the investigation, the Kannur police found that he had taken a loan through a mobile application between December and January. The matter is under probe and a cyber FIR has been registered at the Cyber Police Station.

According to Kannur City Police Commissioner, the student received repeated calls from the lenders. The loan agency had also contacted a teacher at his college regarding the repayment and the teacher reportedly received multiple calls in connection with the dues.

Commenting on this, the student's father said the loan was taken with the family’s knowledge for his mother’s treatment. "My wife had been undergoing treatment for over a month, and we needed money to meet the medical expenses. That is why he took the loan," he told Onmanorama. 

"Since he had been spending most of his time at the hospital, he was unable to work, which led to a delay in repayment. He could have informed me if the loan had become a problem. 

The father also alleged that the college authorities had never informed the family about issues related to the loan, including instances where a teacher was reportedly contacted by the lending agency.

“They have my phone number. Then why didn’t they call me even once to inform me about it?” he asked.

A senior police officer told HT, “We are currently treating it as a case of suicide. We have not found evidence yet of him being pushed off the building by anyone. We have not recovered a suicide note either. The doctor who conducted the autopsy said the death resulted from injuries during the course of the fall. The final report is still awaited.”

Also read- Bengaluru Dental student suicide: 6 oral medicine and radiology faculty suspended