Kerala nursing student ragging: JDT Islam offers help to Aswathi

KOZHIKODE: JDT Islam Orphanage here on Sunday offered all support to ragging victim Aswathi K.P. hailing from Pulluvanpadi, Edappal, Malappuram. C.T. Kunhumuhammed, the group's secretary, informed Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a public event in Thiruvananthapuram that it was ready to accommodate and sponsor her studies at its nursing college.

Ms Aswathi, a first year BSc nursing student of Al Qamar College of Nursing, Kalaburagi, Karnataka, is currently undergoing treatment at Government Medical College Hospital here allegedly after ragging by senior students. Her internal organs are badly affected, and doctors say it might take another six months to get cured.

Three senior students were arrested and sent to Kalaburagi central prison after Medical College police registered the statement of Ms Aswathi that she was abused and force-fed acid like cleaning lotion. The case was later transferred to Kalaburagi station, and the police is searching for another senior student. All of them hail from Kerala.

Mr Kunhumuhammed shared the stage with the Chief Minister during an award ceremony held at VJT Hall, Thiruvanan-thapuram. The anti-drug society of JDT Islam Arts and Science College bagged the award of the excise department for its anti-drug campaign. The Chief Minister presented the award to Mr Kunhumuhammed and principal E.K. Swarnakumari. JDT Islam Nursing College principal Sunita P.C. had visited Ms Aswathi at the hospital.

Earlier, electricity and ST/ST development minister A.K. Balan had promised that the State Government would bear all the medical expenses for the girl. Kalaburagi DSP S. Jahnavi, who is heading the investigation, is expected to record the girl’s statement on Monday. A nine-member team of Kalaburagi police reached Kozhikode on Friday.