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Outrage in Kerala: Sidharth, a bright Veterinary student brutally assaulted with iron rods-barbed wire, paraded naked, and starved for 3 days by SFI goons for dancing with girls on Valentine's Day, later found hanging, 6 SFI members arrested, 12 suspended
In a tragic incident that has shocked the community, J S Sidharth, a young student pursuing his second year at the Pookode Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, was found deceased in a distressing state, hanging in the toilet of the college hostel. This sorrowful event unfolded after Sidharth endured a series of brutal events including a mock trial by a group, a violent physical assault, and intense psychological torment.
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The grieving family of the victim has come forward with claims that certain classmates of Sidharth conveyed to them a horrifying account of his last moments. They allege that Sidharth's life was brutally taken by a group of individuals identified as leaders and activists of the local Students Federation of India (SFI).
In a related development, the law enforcement authorities have taken decisive action in the case of the young student found deceased on February 18 within the confines of his college hostel, located at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in the Wayanad district of Kerala. It's been reported that prior to his tragic demise, Sidharth was subjected to cruel and inhumane treatment on the college premises. In a significant move, eleven individuals, including four prominent figures of the Students Federation of India (SFI), have been apprehended and are now facing charges in relation to this heart-wrenching incident.
Sources close to the investigation have revealed distressing details about the events leading to 20-year-old J S Sidharthan's death. It appears that the motive behind the alleged torture was rooted in Sidharthan's participation in a dance with senior female students during a Valentine’s Day celebration at the college, an act that seemingly provoked the perpetrators.
The police, deepening their probe into this case, have pinpointed 18 students as suspects involved in this grave matter.
In a subsequent move reflecting the seriousness of the incident, the arrests of four SFI leaders were officially documented last Friday. Those taken into custody include the college union president K Arun, SFI unit secretary Amal Ihsan, and unit members Asif Khan and S Abhishek. In response to the arrests and the allegations, the SFI, which is the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) currently in power, has expelled the four individuals from their ranks, marking a significant development in the case.
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In the wake of J S Sidharth's tragic demise, the police shifted the nature of their inquiry, originally recorded as an unnatural death, to include charges under specific sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These charges encompass abetment to suicide, wrongful restraint, and intentionally causing harm, in addition to violations under the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act. This adjustment in the legal framework signals a deeper probe into the circumstances that led to Sidharth's death.
A fellow student, bearing witness to the sequence of events, recounted a horrific account of Sidharth's final days. According to this testimony, Sidharth was subjected to "merciless torture" from February 14 to February 18. This torment included being paraded naked in front of approximately 130 hostel students and enduring physical assaults.
Initially, the attackers used two belts for the assault, which subsequently broke. They then resorted to iron rods and wires. Amidst this brutality, threats were made to deter anyone from reporting the incident. It was also suggested that both the hostel's warden and the college dean were aware of the ongoing mistreatment but did nothing to stop it.
The postmortem examination detailed in the report corroborates the brutal assault, concluding that Sidharth's death was "consistent with death due to hanging." Moreover, it was found that Sidharth had "sustained multiple blunt injuries, including tramline contusion of 2-3 days on the body suggestive of assault." A tramline contusion is indicative of an injury caused by being struck with a rod or an object with a rectangular section.
Amid these disturbing revelations, M Shibu, Sidharthan’s uncle, provided a poignant statement that shed light on a possible motive for the animosity towards Sidharthan: “We were told by students that seniors were irked over Sidharthan dancing with girls of their batch (on Valentine’s Day). The next day, he left the Wayanad campus and went home to Thiruvananthapuram as there was no class on February 16 and 17… While he was travelling by train to Thiruvananthapuram on the night of February 15, he was told by a classmate to return to the campus. He said he wanted Sidharthan to submit a paper the next day…”
The preliminary probe by the police found that a tiff on Valentine's Day led to the brutal assault on Sidharth by seniors. He was allegedly paraded naked and assaulted brutally in front of other students. He was also subjected to a mob trial. The brutalities took place in the courtyard of the hostel were there are over hundred residents. But no one could intervene. Back on campus, Sidharthan was allegedly tortured for the next two days. He was allegedly stripped and assaulted with a belt. “He was shut in a room and not given food,” his uncle Shibu said. “We suspect the students had hanged him seeing his deteriorating health condition. They wanted to make it a suicide.”
Wayanad Student Death Timeline: 'Sidharth Paraded Naked, Assaulted, Subjected to Mob Trial'
February 14: Senior students allegedly interrogate Sidharth about an incident where he is said to have shown affection towards a female student during a function, though this claim has not been verified.
February 15:
- Early morning: Sidharth reaches out to his mother, sharing his plan to come home due to a sports day event at college.
- 2:20 pm: He updates his parents about a delay in his return, blaming a traffic jam in the mountain pass, and expresses hope to catch an evening train home.
- 6:30 pm: After confirming his boarding of a train in a phone conversation, all further attempts to contact Sidharth fail.
February 16, 4 am: Sidharth contacts his parents to inform them he has been urgently called back to the hostel, leading to his return towards Ernakulam. During this period, he is reportedly attacked on campus, first on a rocky area and later near a water tank. Rumors are spread by the attackers accusing Sidharth of inappropriate behavior with a female student, leading to his expulsion from college WhatsApp groups. It's also mentioned that the female student was allegedly coerced into filing a complaint against Sidharth, which was used as a pretext to recall him to campus. Rehan Venoy, one of the individuals later arrested, is said to have been the one who summoned Sidharth back.
February 17: Sidharth is subjected to a mock trial by a group within the campus courtyard. During this ordeal, he is forcibly undressed and suffers significant physical harm while being tied up with a rope.
February 18:
- The abuse continues into the morning. Amid these circumstances, Sidharth manages to communicate with his mother about his intentions to return home on February 24.
- 1:30 pm: Tragically, Sidharth is discovered hanging in the hostel bathroom.
The grief-stricken parents of Sidharth are firm in their belief that their son's untimely death was not a suicide but a murder. His father, Jayaprakash, and mother, Sheeba, shared with the media that on February 15, Sidharth was en route home. However, during his journey, a classmate phoned him, urging him to return to college for some purported urgent work. This request, according to the parents, was a ploy that led Sidharth into a trap. Upon his return to the hostel, he was brutally attacked by senior students, among whom was an SFI leader from the college union.
Sheeba recounted how she tried to reach Sidharth on February 16 through numerous calls, which went unanswered. Subsequently, she sent him a message. When Sidharth finally replied, he merely informed her that he was unwell and resting.
Both parents have dismissed the possibility that Sidharth took his own life, firmly stating that the circumstances point to murder. They also expressed concerns that the accused, being college union leaders with affiliations to the ruling party, might receive unwarranted political protection.
The investigation into Sidharth's death faced public scrutiny, prompting Kalpetta Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) T N Sajeev to take charge of the case by Wednesday. Up to this point, the police have detained 7 students, including SFI leaders, while 11 others are still at large.
DySP Sajeev, in discussions with journalists, indicated that initial findings suggest Sidharth was forced into a mock trial and underwent severe torture.
The authorities have escalated their legal response to the incident involving Sidharth by applying several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), targeting wrongful confinement, criminal conspiracy, and inflicting harm with dangerous weapons. Additionally, the charges include sections of the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, underscoring the seriousness of the offenses committed.
As the situation gains significant attention and evolves into a considerable political controversy, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has publicly declared that stern measures will be taken against those found guilty. He has further instructed the police department to establish a special investigation team dedicated to this case, ensuring a thorough and focused examination of the facts.
Another Prime Accused in Veterinary Student Death Case in Kerala Nabbed by Police
A high-ranking official from the Wayanad district police has informed that they are in the process of recording the statement of a recently apprehended suspect. Following this procedural step, an official arrest of the individual will be made.
This recent development comes after the arrest of six individuals on Wednesday, related to the case. It's important to note, however, that these six were not among the twelve initially identified as the main suspects in the investigation.
The demise of 20-year-old Siddharthan on February 18 has significantly agitated the political landscape of the state. Both the Congress and the BJP have pointed fingers at the CPI(M)'s student faction, the SFI, accusing them of being directly responsible for the young man's death, thereby intensifying the scrutiny and debate surrounding the tragic event.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) has responded to the accusations by denying any involvement in the incident.
In a recent statement, state Law Minister P Rajeev made it clear that the government is committed to taking stringent measures against those found culpable, regardless of their association with any organization.
The student's father has raised serious concerns, highlighting the findings of the postmortem report. According to him, the report reveals that his son endured injuries over a period of three days and had an empty stomach at the time of death. This, he argues, strongly suggests that his son was subjected to severe physical abuse and was deprived of food.
Following the distressing assertions made by the student's parents, political parties, starting with the Congress followed by the BJP, have voiced allegations against the SFI, accusing it of being responsible for the fatal beating of the young man.
Reacting to the allegations put forth by the parents, the police, which had initially filed the incident as a case of unnatural death, proceeded to charge 12 students with several offenses. These charges include abetment of suicide, wrongful restraint, and causing harm through dangerous weapons or means, under the provisions of the IPC and the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act.
Subsequently, the list of individuals implicated in the case expanded, bringing the total number of accused to 18.
SFI Lands in the Eye of a Political Storm
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the left, is currently embroiled in a significant political controversy following the tragic death of J.S. Sidharth, a second-year student at the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) located in Pookode, Wayanad district, Kerala. The circumstances surrounding Sidharth’s death, purportedly as a result of ragging and assault by members of the SFI, have exposed the organization to severe criticism from opposition parties. These parties argue that the SFI has been engaging in excessive violence, social shaming, public trials, defamation, interrogative tactics, and intimidation to maintain its dominant presence on college campuses.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has expressed strong support for the criticisms levied by the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against the SFI’s alleged culture of violence. During a meeting with reporters after visiting Sidharth’s family in Thiruvananthapuram, Mr. Khan, who also serves as the Chancellor of State-funded universities, leveled serious accusations against the SFI. He accused the organization of perpetuating a cycle of violence to suppress dissenting opinions, alternative political ideologies, and freedom of expression within the academic community.
To emphasize his point, Mr. Khan invoked a quote from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a renowned Russian communist dissident, which reflects on the interplay between violence and deceit. “Violence cannot conceal itself behind anything except lies, and lies have nothing to maintain them save violence. Anyone who has once proclaimed violence as his method must inexorably choose the lie as his principle,” Mr. Khan stated, highlighting the gravity of the accusations against the SFI in the wake of Sidharth’s death.
‘Scapegoats’
The Governor has voiced a concern regarding the dual role SFI activists often find themselves in, stating they are “aggressors and victims at the same time.” According to him, these activists are utilized by their party as front-line troops to enforce political dominance through brutality against opponents. This dynamic, he notes, leaves the “impressionable youth” largely unaware that they are being manipulated for specific political agendas, essentially being made scapegoats.
Mr. Khan observed that such entanglements with the law become a common future for these students, gradually leading to significant hurdles in obtaining necessary clearances for passports and employment, effectively leaving many to face a bleak future with limited options.
Furthermore, Mr. Khan expressed that this situation renders the youth increasingly dependent on those same leaders who initially exploited their naïveté, with no apparent alternative but to seek protection from political retribution through these figures. This dependency, he articulated, traps the students and their families in a relentless cycle of allegiance to the party, from which breaking free is nearly impossible.
‘End Political Violence’
“Kerala’s enlightened population should put an end to political violence for the sake of future generations,” Mr. Khan implored, highlighting a collective responsibility to curb the cycle of violence.
The Governor shared that the parents of Sidharth are deeply dissatisfied with the ongoing police investigation into their son’s death, particularly questioning the intensity of the legal actions taken against the accused SFI activists.
“I will write to the State Police Chief about the family’s apprehensions and monitor the case,” he committed, indicating a proactive approach to ensuring justice.
Mr. Khan has faced opposition from SFI members, evidenced by public confrontations with protesters waving black flags, a reaction to accusations against him for purportedly filling university syndicates with nominees from the Sangh Parivar.
He sternly criticized the prevailing culture of violence within the political landscape of Kerala, a scenario he argues has led to numerous political assassinations.
“Recently, the High Court had slapped double legal jeopardy on two party leaders who had initially got off lightly for the murder of Revolutionary Marxist Party (RMP) leader and their former colleague T.P. Chandrasekharan,” he remarked, pointing to a recent judicial decision that underscored the seriousness of political violence and the need for accountability.
Bid to Wipe Out Case: Chennithala
Ramesh Chennithala, a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) and MLA, has called upon the government to establish a special investigation team (SIT) to be led by an officer of IG (Inspector General) rank for a thorough examination of the case.
During a press conference in Kozhikode on March 1 (Friday), Mr. Chennithala voiced concerns over efforts by CPI(M) leaders to “wipe out” the case. He accused CPI(M) leaders, including the former MLA C.K. Saseendran, of “threatening” the DySP responsible for the investigation in an attempt to protect the suspects currently in police custody.
In response to the incident, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had previously directed the Kerala Police to form a special investigation team to delve into the matter. Law Minister P. Rajeeve and Revenue Minister K. Rajan have reassured that the government's stance is firm on not providing protection to those found guilty.
The police have charged the accused with several serious offences, including abetment of suicide, inflicting harm voluntarily, assault with dangerous weapons, illegal detention, wrongful restraint, wrongful confinement, and violations under Sections 3 and 4 of the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, 1998.
Further actions are anticipated in this case, as indicated by the police, who have suggested that additional arrests are likely. In light of these developments, youth organizations including the Youth Congress, Kerala Students Union (KSU), and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) have declared their intentions to protest, demanding justice for Sidharth.
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