Beyond brutal: Walk naked, dumbbells hung from private parts in grisly ragging incident

Kerala:  A shocking case of ragging has emerged from a government nursing college in Kottayam, Kerala, where senior students subjected their juniors to horrific acts of physical and mental abuse.The incident has sparked outrage and calls for stricter measures to combat ragging in educational institutions, highlighting the urgent need to protect vulnerable students from such barbaric practices.

Three Months of Torture

Five students from the Government Nursing College in Kottayam, Kerala, have been arrested for allegedly subjecting first-year students to brutal ragging for nearly three months. The accused, second and third-year general nursing students, face charges under the Prohibition of Ragging Act of 2011 after three first-year students filed a complaint detailing the horrific abuse they endured. The ragging, which reportedly began in November 2024, included forcing the juniors to strip naked and torturing them with dumbbells.

Dumbbells on Private Parts and Compass Wounds

According to the complaint, the senior students hung dumbbells from the private parts of the first-year students and inflicted injuries using compasses and similar objects. They then allegedly forced the victims to apply lotion on their wounds, exacerbating the pain. The victims were also allegedly forced to have cream smeared on their faces, heads, and mouths. The seniors threatened the complainants of critical consequences if they chose to speak up about the abuse.

Extortion and Alcohol

In addition to the physical abuse, the senior students allegedly extorted money from the juniors every Sunday to purchase alcohol. When one student refused to pay, he was brutally beaten. The accused also forced the junior students to drink alcohol and threatened them by recording visuals to ensure they didn't reveal the incidents.

Echoes of Tragedy and Calls for Action

The incident comes weeks after a 14-year-old boy in Kochi allegedly died by suicide due to ragging at his school. Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty has directed a comprehensive inquiry into that incident. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also condemned the tragic loss, emphasizing the importance of kindness, empathy, and the courage to speak up against bullying.