Thiruvananthapuram: Protests have intensified in Kerala’s Kannur district following the suicide of a Dalit first-year BDS student. Students, youth, and women’s groups affiliated with various organizations and political parties have taken to the streets, demanding strict action against those responsible.
According to reports, 26-year-old Nitin was found dead on the college campus on April 10th. He was found lying on a stone-paved area between the campus’s administrative block and hospital building. The incident has sparked serious concern, with several organizations blaming institutional negligence.
On Monday, various organizations affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), Indian National Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held separate protest marches. The demonstrations reached Kannur Dental College in Anjarakandy, where students and activists raised slogans against the college administration and the relevant faculty.
Protesters alleged that institutional pressure and discrimination could be behind the student’s death. They called the incident an “institutional murder” and demanded a fair investigation and strict action against the culprits. They also accused the police of trying to protect the culprits.
During the protest, a large number of people took to the streets and demanded immediate action from the administration. The protesters stated that their agitation would continue until concrete action was taken against the culprits.
The police and administration stated that the investigation into the case was ongoing. Officials stated that all aspects of the incident were being examined and further action would be taken based on the evidence. However, no clear information has yet been released about any action taken against anyone.
This incident has again brought to the forefront the issue of student safety and equality in educational institutions in the state. Various organizations stated that strict measures are needed to prevent such incidents and ensure a safe and discrimination-free environment for students.
Overall, the Kannur incident has sparked outrage across the state and people seem to be uniting to demand justice.
