A 22-year-old first-year student enrolled in a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) program, Nithin Raj R.L, was tragically discovered deceased on April 10 after reportedly falling from a five-story building situated on the grounds of Anjarakandy Dental College in Kannur, Kerala. This incident has sparked serious accusations of faculty harassment, caste discrimination, and bias based on skin tone.
Nithin, hailing from Nedumangad in the Thiruvananthapuram district, was found severely injured on the college campus on Friday afternoon and was promptly taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The Chakkarakkal police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident and have filed a case of unnatural death.
His family, who earn their livelihood as daily wage laborers, have alleged that Nithin was subjected to prolonged mental harassment by the department head and other instructors. They have asserted that he was consistently singled out due to his caste background and skin complexion. Specifically, they have accused Dr. M K Ram, the department head, of threatening to reduce Nithin’s internal grades, heightening concerns about the case.
The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has also taken notice of the situation, registering a suo motu case and instructing the police to furnish a detailed report on the matter.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed his distress over the tragic demise of Nithin Raj, a young BDS student from Thiruvananthapuram, at Kannur Dental College, Anjarakandy. He highlighted audio evidence that aligns with the long-standing claims of Nithin’s family, citing instances of verbal abuse, casteist insults, threats, and intentional hindrance of academic progress by the faculty. Tharoor lamented the loss of a promising young life due to a toxic campus environment.
Following the incident, Nithin Raj’s remains were brought to his residence in Thiruvananthapuram, where he was cremated in the presence of grieving family members, friends, and local residents.