‘University college not fit for studies’

Thiruvananthapuram: The student who attempted suicide recently following alleged torture by SFI leaders of the University College, on Saturday stated before the independent judicial inquiry commission that there was no atmosphere conducive for education on the campus.

Though the issue was taken up with teachers, they did not act, the first year BSc student who had to leave the college, told the commission headed by retired High Court judge Justice P.K. Shamsudheen.

She tried to kill herself on May 3 after leaving a note saying that her studies were affected due to over politicisation on the campus as the SFI forced her to take part in its demonstrations avoiding classes.

She was found in the college restroom unconscious with her wrists cut. She later joined Varkala SN College.

The commission inquires violation of human rights, violence against students and irregularities happening in higher educational institutions.

V. Thankamani, S. Varghese and J. Sandhya are other members of the panel and A.G. George, the member secretary.

It was a convention org-anised by Save University College Campaign Com-mittee that decided to app-oint a people’s fact-finding committee on alleged violations of human rights on this campus.

In her two-page detailed suicide note, she had written that the union leaders used to force her to skip classes and attend its functions and strikes. Due to this, she had to miss many class lessons.

Even during exam time, she was asked to come out for its demonstrations.

She had mentioned that some of the women office-bearers of SFI were harassing her for not taking part in their organisational activities and that her classmates isolated her as they were afraid of the wrath of the union leaders after she protested.

Later, in her statement before the Attingal court, she held none responsible for the turn of events and had no complaints against anyone.

The Attingal police had registered a case against her for the suicide attempt. She had now reiterated her original statement she made in the letter before the commission, though she didn't want to go ahead with the case.