Dalit Organisations’ Hartal Over A Dental Student's Suicide Disrupts Normal Life In Kerala
Action council demands arrest of teachers accused of caste discrimination and harassment: Reports
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A dawn-to-dusk hartal called by Dalit/Adivasi organisations to protest the delay in arresting those accused in the death of BDS student Nithin Raj at Kannur Dental College disrupted normal life in several parts of Kerala.
Organized by the Nithin Raj Action Council, comprising 56 Dalit and Adivasi groups, the protest affected public transport, businesses, and both private and government offices across many districts. Nithin, a first-year BDS student belonging to the Scheduled Caste community, died on April 10 after falling from a building, sparking outrage across the state. His family accused faculty members of caste- and colour-based discrimination.
A case was filed against Dr M.K. Ram, Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, and Associate Professor Dr Sangeetha Nambiar under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, but no arrests have been made so far. Nambiar has secured interim bail from the Thalassery Additional Sessions Court.
Dalit organisations have called for the arrest of the accused teachers, the implementation of the Rohit Vemula Act, and financial compensation of Rs 10 crore for the victim's family.
Traffic disrupted
Traffic came to a halt on national and state highways in several areas as protesters blocked roads. Passengers arriving at the Inter-State Bus Terminus in Thiruvananthapuram, as well as at railway stations and bus stations across Kerala, were stranded for hours without access to buses or taxis.
Students appearing for the NEET examinations were hit hardest, with many unable to reach their exam centres on time.
Despite the Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi announcing that shops and markets would stay open, hartal supporters forced many to close. Reports from Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Idukki, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram indicated that the hartal disrupted normal life, affecting public transport, businesses, and various institutions.
Although the Action Council stated that vehicles would not be forcibly stopped, supporters blocked traffic on highways. Police intervened in several areas to remove protesters and restore movement. Essential services like milk supply, newspapers, hospitals, and weddings were exempted.
Kerala HC initiates contempt proceedings
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday initiated Suo motu contempt proceedings over the hartal organised by Dalit and Adivasi groups, directing the DGP (Law and Order) to submit a report by evening on the reported violence and blockades, and issued notices to those who called for the hartal.
