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Kerala High Court Halts Re-Admission of 18 Students Accused in Veterinary Student’s Death Following Torture at Mannuthy Campus

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On Wednesday, the Kerala High Court put a hold on the re-admission of 18 students involved in the suicide of JS Sidharthan, a second-year student at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences under the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) located in Pookode, Wayanad.

A division bench, consisting of Justice Amit Rawal and Justice KV Jayakumar, stayed the order of a single judge that had permitted the re-admission of these eighteen students at the Mannuthy campus, where they were implicated in Sidharthan’s suicide.

The stay came in response to a writ appeal filed by Sidharthan’s mother, who contested the single judge’s decision allowing the accused students to return. Since she was not originally a party in the writ petition, she sought permission to submit a third-party appeal, which the division bench granted. The court also emphasized that Sidharthan’s mother should be given a chance to present her case during the ongoing disciplinary inquiry by the university.

In its ruling, the division bench strongly condemned ragging, equating the actions of those involved in such behavior to “worse than those indulging in vandalism.” This statement highlighted the gravity with which the court regarded the allegations against the accused students, particularly in light of the tragic outcome of Sidharthan’s ordeal.

Earlier in December 2024, a single bench had overturned the expulsion order for the accused students, allowing them to be readmitted to the Mannuthy campus while also mandating a fresh disciplinary inquiry against them. This ruling had nullified the ban on the students, preventing them from enrolling in any other college for three years, as well as quashed the final report of the Anti-Ragging Squad.

The court ordered that the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University conduct a new inquiry, ensuring that the students were provided with a memo of charges detailing the allegations against them, in compliance with the principles of natural justice. The students were permitted to continue their education at the college, contingent upon the outcome of the new inquiry.

Sidharthan, aged 20, was found dead in his hostel bathroom on February 18, allegedly as a result of severe physical and mental harassment from senior students. The post-mortem report confirmed that he had endured significant abuse and was deprived of food for an extended period. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charge sheet indicated that the brutality inflicted by the accused ultimately led to his death.

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MBBS Student Alleges She Was Drugged, Raped by Friend in Delhi Hotel

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New Delhi: An 18-year-old MBBS student has accused a 20-year-old male friend of drugging and sexually assaulting her at a hotel in Delhi’s Adarsh Nagar area. The alleged incident took place on September 9, police officials said.

According to the complaint, the accused, who is also a medical student, invited the woman to “Hotel Apple” on the pretext of spending time together. Once there, he allegedly gave her a drink laced with drugs and then raped her.

The survivor told police that the accused recorded obscene videos and took pictures during the assault. He later threatened to make the content viral if she reported the incident.

The woman, a native of Jind in Haryana, is currently staying at the hostel of Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College in Rohini, Delhi.

Based on her complaint, police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. A search is underway to locate and arrest the accused, officials added.

In a separate case earlier this month, a school manager in Uttar Pradesh was arrested for allegedly raping a Class 8 student. In February, a tuition teacher in Delhi’s CR Park area was accused of repeatedly raping a 15-year-old student over three years and threatening her with blackmail.

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8 Patients Dead In Jaipur Hospital Fire

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Jaipur: Eight patients died after a fire broke out at the trauma centre of the state-run Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur late Sunday night.

Officials said the blaze started in the storage area of the Neuro ICU, possibly due to a short circuit. There were 11 patients in the ICU at the time. Smoke quickly spread, causing panic among patients and staff.

Hospital workers and attendants tried to rescue patients, even moving them out on their beds. Firefighters controlled the blaze in about two hours.

Families of the victims alleged that hospital staff ignored early warnings about smoke and fled during the fire.

Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and other ministers visited the hospital to review the situation and assured a detailed probe into the incident.

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75-Year-Old Man Marries 35-Year-Old, Dies Before Honeymoon

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Uttar Pradesh: A 75-year-old man who remarried in search of companionship died barely hours after his wedding, sparking shock and speculation in his village.

The deceased, identified as Sangruram, a resident of Kuchhmuchh village in Jaunpur district, had been living alone after losing his first wife a year ago. With no children, he supported himself through farming. Despite advice from relatives against remarriage, Sangruram wed 35-year-old Manbhavati, a resident of Jalalpur area, on Monday, September 29.

The marriage was first registered in court, followed by traditional rituals at a local temple. According to Manbhavati, the couple spent most of the wedding night conversing, as Sangruram assured her that she would take responsibility for the household while he would “take care of the children.”

However, by the next morning, his health deteriorated suddenly. He was rushed to hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The unexpected death has triggered varied reactions in the village. While some residents believe it to be a natural occurrence given his age, others have expressed suspicion about the circumstances.

Relatives, including nephews residing in Delhi, have halted funeral rites until their arrival. They have also raised questions about whether a police inquiry or post-mortem examination will be conducted before the cremation.

Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding further investigation.

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