Death Of A First-Year Dental Student In Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram: Two teachers, including the head of the department, of a government dental college in Kerala have been suspended in connection with the unnatural death of a Dalit student.

Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student at Anjarakandy Dental College, was found lying with serious injuries in a gravel-laden area near Kannur Medical College on Friday. He later succumbed to his injuries sustained in medical school.

According to initial reports, the 23-year-old student jumped from a multi-storey building in Ancharakandi Medical College in a suspected case of suicide. Nithin’s family made serious allegations against the HoD and another teacher, accusing them of discriminating against the student based on caste, color and financial status. Nithin was admitted to the university last September.

Based on the allegations made by the victim’s family, university officials, head of the Department of Dental Anatomy, Dr. MK Ram and Associate Professor Dr. He suspended Sangeetha.

However, Vinod Moni, Principal of the College of Dentistry, told media persons that no complaint regarding misuse of caste has been received. He said the academic administration will fully cooperate with the police for a thorough investigation.

A case under section 184 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered by Chakkarakkal police station in connection with the incident. In addition to the police investigation, the university administration formed an investigation committee to look into the allegations.