Kannur (Kerala) | Students of Kannur Dental College on Thursday launched a protest on the campus following the death of BDS student Nithin Raj R L, who was allegedly harassed on a caste basis, while the college management dismissed Dental Anatomy department head Dr M K Ram.
A college official told PTI that Dr Ram had served the college for over 10 years and was dismissed following an internal inquiry.
Earlier in the day, students from all batches, except those appearing for university examinations, took out a protest march and held a dharna in front of the dental college at Anjarakandy.
The students also refused to wear white coats until justice is delivered to Raj and action is taken against the faculty members concerned.
Raj (22), a first-year BDS student, was found critically injured near the medical college block after falling from a building on April 10 and later succumbed to his injuries.
Police have registered a case against two faculty members, Dr Ram and associate professor Dr Sangeethan, for abetment of suicide and under provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act following allegations that Raj was harassed over his caste and complexion.
Student representatives said the college management is yet to address key issues even days after Raj’s death.
They said a petition detailing their demands would be submitted to the management.
The students demanded the removal of Dr Ram, who is a prime accused in the case, from the college.
"We demand action against other college staff involved in Raj’s death. We want a student-friendly environment in the college as the management has never been concerned about our issues," they said.
They also alleged a lack of transparency in the functioning of the institution and said they were unaware of the composition of the college management.
The students’ union has limitations as it lacks the support of the college, they added.
"The inquiry into Raj’s death should be transparent and we want to know what has happened to him. Until our demands are met, we will continue the protest," they said.
The students said they are holding a silent protest as university examinations are ongoing.
"Until our concerns are addressed, we will not wear the white coat. If patients coming here are to be taken care of, our issues should be addressed first," they said.
By evening, the college management decided to dismiss Dr Ram.
"We will look into other demands of the students, and discussions will be held in the coming days. The college is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigations," a college official told PTI.
Apart from the police case, the Kerala SC/ST Commission, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, the Kerala State Youth Commission, the Kerala University of Health Sciences and the Medical Education Department are conducting separate inquiries.
A committee formed by the Kerala University of Health Sciences reached the campus on Thursday and recorded statements from students.
The students’ parents also reached the campus to meet the committee and raise their concerns.
Dr Ram and Dr Sangeetha, who are accused in the police case, are still untraced.
DYFI activists, as part of the ongoing protest, attacked a dental clinic in Edakkad, Kannur where Dr Ram practised.
According to police, DYFI activists reached the clinic as part of a protest march, which was stopped by police. However, a few activists managed to enter the building and damage the clinic’s nameplate. They later erected DYFI flags, posters and banners at the building.
Similarly, the Muslim Youth League, the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League, held a protest march to the office of the Kannur City Police Commissioner.
The protesters condemned the police for failing to arrest the main accused, including Dr Ram, in connection with the case. Police stopped the march by setting up barricades. Later, water cannons were used against the protesters. However, the protesters refused to disperse and continued the agitation till the afternoon.
