National Wushu champ’s eardrum ruptures after being hit during ragging

A case has been registered against six students of Islamic Studies at MES Kalladi College in Manarkkad, Palakkad district on Thursday after they attacked Mohammed Dilshad, 19-year-old, national Wushu champion.

Dilshad who was slapped and beaten by his seniors had his right eardrum ruptured in the attack. The incident took place on Tuesday at a bus stop in front of the college, where Dilshad was standing.

In a complaint to the college principal, Dr OP Salahuddin, Dilshad said he was attacked by Muhammed Shibil and Sanil and four others.

Shibil and Sanil have been suspended following the incident. The case has been registered against the accused under various sections of the IPC for unlawful assembly, punishment for rioting, wrongful restraint, grievously causing hurt and under Section 4 of Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, police sources said.

Governor expresses concern

Reacting to recent incidents of violence in campuses in Kerala, state Governor Justice P Sathasivam on Thursday termed the incidents as “very disturbing”.

Addressing a function in Kanjirappally, the Governor also expressed hope that the issues in the University College and the Kerala University would be settled soon. “The incidents taken place last week at Thiruvananthapuram is very disturbing,” the Governor said adding he had summoned the state Higher Education Minister and Kerala University Vice Chancellor following the incidents. Noting that Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala, and delegations of various political parties had also met him in this connection, he said, “Now I hope… to some extend, the issue will be settled shortly.” Sathasivam said he was receiving monthly reports from vice chancellors of the Universities in Kerala on the incidents like campus violence, ragging and sexual harassments etc.

Ragging menace in Kerala

Even as ragging continues to a major menace in higher educational institutions in Kerala, stats with Department of Higher Education show that the state was in 2018, seventh in national standing compared to fourth in 2016 and 2015.

Though the number of ragging incidents in Kerala rose to 45 in 2017 from 35 in 2016 and 29 in 2015, Kerala’s position in national standing ‘improved’ with Bihar and Karnataka registering more number of cases in 2017. Uttar Pradesh tops the chart with 143 cases followed by Madhya Pradesh 100, West Bengal 99, Bihar 53, Karnataka 49, Maharashtra and Odisha 46 each.