A horrifying case of ragging has emerged from Kerala, where first-year students at Government Nursing College in Kottayam endured months of brutal abuse at the hands of their seniors. The victims, subjected to inhumane torture, revealed their ordeal in a formal police complaint, leading to the arrest of five third-year students under the Anti-Ragging Act.
Three Months of Unimaginable Torture
The ragging incidents began in November 2024 and continued for nearly three months. According to the victims, their seniors forced them to stand naked while hanging dumbbells from their private parts. They were also stabbed with sharp objects, including compasses from geometry boxes, and mercilessly beaten.
To add to their suffering, the seniors applied lotion to the fresh wounds, causing unbearable pain. When the victims screamed, the abusers smeared the lotion into their mouths. The tormentors filmed these acts and used the videos to blackmail the juniors, threatening to ruin their academic careers if they spoke out.
Forced Extortion and Alcohol Purchases
The complaint also alleges that the seniors regularly extorted money from their juniors every Sunday to buy alcohol. Those who refused were severely beaten. One of the victims, unable to bear the abuse any longer, confided in his father, who encouraged him to approach the police.
Swift Action and Arrests
Following the complaint, all five accused students were suspended from the college and arrested by the Kottayam Gandhinagar police. They are expected to be presented before a magistrate soon. Authorities have assured strict action against the perpetrators and a thorough investigation into the ragging culture at the institution.
Rising Concerns Over Student Safety
This shocking case comes just weeks after a 15-year-old schoolboy in Kochi allegedly died by suicide due to bullying. These incidents have raised serious concerns about student safety in educational institutions, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of anti-ragging laws and better support systems for victims.
Authorities urge students facing similar abuse to come forward and report incidents to ensure such horrors do not continue unchecked. With growing awareness and strict legal action, the fight against ragging remains crucial to safeguarding young students’ futures.