Kottayam Nursing College Horror: Five Senior Students Arrested for Brutal Ragging, Extortion, and Physical Abuse

In a shocking incident of ragging, the Gandhinagar police in Kottayam arrested five third-year nursing students from the College of Nursing at Government Medical College, Kottayam, on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. The arrests were made after six first-year students filed complaints alleging extreme physical and psychological harassment since their classes began on November 1, 2024. The victims detailed horrifying acts of abuse, including forced nudity, physical torture, and extortion.

The college administration has suspended the accused students, and the police investigation has uncovered a three-month-long cycle of ragging within the institution.

Arrests and Accused Individuals

The arrested students have been identified as:

• Samuel John (20) from Moonnilavu, Kottayam
• Jeeva (19) from Nadavayal, Wayanad
• Vivek (21) from Koruthodu, Kottayam
• NRijil Jith (20) from Manjeri, Malappuram
• Rahul Raj (22) from Wandoor, Malappuram

Following their arrest, the accused were presented before a magistrate, and legal proceedings are currently underway.

Horrific Abuse in the Hostel

According to the victims' complaints, the accused subjected the first-year students to:

• Forced Nudity: The juniors were allegedly forced to remain nude inside the college hostel.
• Extreme Physical Torture: The victims claimed they were made to lift weights using their private parts as a form of humiliation.
• Use of Sharp-Edged Tools: The accused allegedly injured the victims using sharp objects.
• Regular Extortion: Each victim was reportedly forced to pay ₹800 every Sunday to buy liquor for the seniors.
• On-Campus Assault: The abuse came to light when one victim was physically assaulted on campus for failing to provide money.

How the Case Was Exposed

• The ragging incidents had been ongoing for three months before one of the victims finally spoke out. After being beaten on campus for failing to provide money, the victim contacted his parents, who urged him to file a police complaint.
• Initially, the Gandhinagar police treated the case as a general dispute between seniors and juniors. However, as the investigation progressed, disturbing details of systematic ragging and abuse emerged.

Police Action and College Response

• The police launched an investigation, leading to the arrests of five students.
• The accused were taken into custody and presented before a magistrate.
• The college administration has suspended the students involved and has assured further inquiry into the case.

Legal and Institutional Implications

• This incident highlights the urgent need for stronger anti-ragging measures in educational institutions. Kerala has strict anti-ragging laws, and students found guilty of ragging can face criminal charges, including imprisonment.
• A senior police officer investigating the case commented:
  "We are taking this matter very seriously. Any form of ragging that causes physical or mental harm will not be tolerated."
• Meanwhile, the college administration issued a statement, saying:
  "We condemn all forms of ragging and have taken immediate action to suspend the accused students. Further investigations will ensure that such incidents never happen again."

Source: The Hindu