[Hindu] Student attempts suicide

Link to report

Rasheed Kappan

He was ‘ragged, beaten up and humiliated’ by a senior

The victim, who had slashed his wrists, was rushed to hospital

Principal denies the occurring of ragging in her school

BANGALORE: The ragging menace resurfaced dramatically at a private nursing school in Ramanagaram with a first year General Nursing and Midwifery student attempting suicide after he was allegedly ragged, beaten up and humiliated last Tuesday. Eventually, it was a providential escape from death for the hapless student. Shattered both mentally and physically, the victim is now ready to say goodbye to the school but not before putting the people behind his ordeal in the dock.

The victim, Byju C., had, on Tuesday, cut his wrists with a blade to escape further humiliation. Fortunately, he was spotted in time by some friends who rushed him to a private hospital at Rajarajeswarinagar in Bangalore. He was later referred to Manipal Hospital. He battled for life in the ICU and was discharged only on Saturday.

Biju’s nightmare began the day before his attempted suicide. A senior student, apparently quite influential with the school management, summoned Byju to his hostel room and ordered him to get a bottle of wine. “I was taking bath when a student told me about my senior’s demand. I went about 10 minutes later and was thoroughly beaten up for being late,” Byju recalled to The Hindu.
Complaint

Traumatised, Byju rang up his father, Chellappan in Pattanamthitta district of Kerala, who advised him to tell everything to S.R. Bowin, principal of the M.H. Nursing School.

The next morning, Byju approached the school head and gave her a written complaint. But by then, the senior student who ragged him had drafted another letter foisting charges against Byju and handed it over to the school head. The principal chose to read aloud this letter, even as Byju’s father reached the place.

A shocked Byju watched in disbelief as the principal accused him of theft and misbehaviour with girl students. “I told the principal that even in my dreams I wouldn’t think of doing such things,” said Byju. But his father had to apologise to the principal assuring that his son would not repeat the misdeeds. “I was also forced to say sorry for a mistake I never committed,” he said.

Thoroughly shaken by the turn of events, Byju chose to end his life. After his father left for Kerala, he went to a coconut grove behind the women’s hostel and slashed his left wrist. However, when he received a phone call from his hostel-mates, he told about his attempted suicide. Within minutes, his friends found him semi-conscious in the grove and rushed him to the hospital.

Ms. Bowin denied any incident of ragging in her institution. “If he (Byju) had given a complaint about ragging, I would have taken action. But no such complaint came to me. There was a clash between juniors and seniors, which went on to an argument. As far as my knowledge goes, it is not ragging. Students give so many complaints. But you cannot blindly believe them,” she said.

The accused 3rd year student, it is learnt, was also working as an admission agent for the nursing school, bringing students from Kerala.

Byju’s parents and relatives on Sunday drafted a complaint to the Director General of Police and the Bangalore District Police Superintendent. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) said it will submit a memorandum to the police.