Kerala nursing student ragging: Kalaburagi police record Aswathi's statement
KOZHIKODE: The investigation team from Kalaburagi recorded the statement of ragging victim K.P. Aswathi hailing from Pulluvanpadi, Edappal, Malappuram on Monday. Aswathi, a first-year BSc nursing student of Al Qamar College of Nursing, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, is undergoing treatment at Government Medical College Hospital here allegedly after ragging by senior students of her college.
The statement was recorded by Kalaburagi DSP S. Jhanhavi at the super specialty block. The DSP also recorded the statements of Aswathi’s mother Janaki and her relatives, who were present at the hospital. It is learnt that Aswathi repeated the same statement she had given to the Medical College police. The recording continued till evening and had to be stopped for nearly one-and-a-half hours since the girl felt uneasiness. Aswathi had complained that she was brutally ragged and force-fed a cleaning lotion by her senior students in the hostel, also Keralites.
Three senior students were arrested and sent to Kalaburagi central prison after the Medical College police registered the statement of Aswathi and transferred the case to Kalaburagi police. The victim’s internal organs are badly affected and doctors say it might take another six months to cure her. The police are searching for another senior student in the case.
Meanwhile, the DSP did not dismiss the allegations of the nursing college that the girl attempted suicide. She added that such details can not be disclosed during this stage of investigation. Meanwhile, the Nursing Council of India stated that the incident would be probed and stringent measures would be taken against the college, including cancellation of its recognition.
The council had formed a separate commission to investigate the complaints and action will be taken soon after receiving the report, said president T. Dileep Kumar in New Delhi. The college did not comply with the UGC rules to prevent ragging. The council would move ahead with measures within three weeks after receiving the report, he said. The students who have been remanded are Lakshmi Pillai from Kollam and Athira Reji and Krishnapriya from Idukki. Kalaburagi police are searching for Shilpa Joyce from Kottayam, who is absconding along with her parents.
