Dalit student in hospital ‘after she was ragged’

A Dalit nursing student from Kerala, studying at a nursing college here, has been admitted to Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH) with serious health problems, allegedly suffered following ragging by senior students.

Aswathi, a first-semester nursing student of Al-Qamar College of Nursing — run by senior Congress leader and former minister Qamrul Islam — hails from Pulluvanpadiyil near Edappal in Malappuram district.

Aswathi was allegedly ragged by her seniors, also from Kerala, at the women’s hostel of the college here on May 9 and was allegedly forced to drink toilet cleaner.

Following the incident, she had been admitted to a private hospital in Kalaburagi. After five days, her health condition deteriorated and she was sent home by college authorities along with another student from Kerala.

The nursing college principal denied that Aswathi had been ragged at the college hostel.