Kerala: Ragging damages student's kidneys

Kottayam: The father of ragging victim Avinash has filed a complaint with the police alleging that his son was physically and mentally harassed by a nine- member group of senior students of the Nattakam government polytechnic college. Sivadasan of Irinjalakuda, who filed the complaint with    Mr K.G. Simon, Kottayam district police chief in- charge, on Friday said that the gang had undressed his son, a   first-year student, and made him take push-ups on December 2.

The accused forcibly fed the boy with liquor mixed with some substances.  When Avinash came home, he  was  admitted to the Mother Hospital, Thrissur, with kidney complaints. The college authorities had failed to take any action against the guilty.   Sivadasan urged the police to arraign the accused under the Kerala prohibition of  ragging Act 1998 and SC/ST atrocities Act. The complaint was also forwarded to the Chingavanam sub- inspector of police.

DC correspondent adds from Thrissur Dr P.M. Jayaraj,  nephrologist at Mother Hospital,  said that both the  kidneys of Avinash were damaged due to excessive physical activity  creating myoglobin protein in the blood which is  filtered by the kidneys.  “If the amount of this protein is too high that will adversely affect the kidneys.  Avinash is put on haemodialysis and he  will recover within three weeks,” he said. Meanwhile, the Nattakam polytechnic college has suspended the 9 students who allegedly ragged Avinash.