Vandiperiyar: A first-year student of Computer Engineering at the Government Polytechnic here has given up her studies after she was assaulted and threatened under the pretext of ragging. The father of the girl said his daughter decided to quit as her life was in danger.
The girl, a resident of Poonthope in Alappuzha, had obtained spot admission early in August but couldn't join because of the flood. She could reach her hostel at Vandiperiyar only on September 2. In her complaint, she stated she faced atrocities the next day itself from Students Federation of India (SFI) activists and senior girl students.
“There were eight of them,” she said. “They kicked and slapped me.”
She was then admitted to Vandiperiyar Government Hospital in Idukki district, from where her parents took her away. The police later booked three girl students and the hostel warden under non-bailable provisions.
The complaint said SFI activists threatened her when she reached the college with her father on Wednesday to testify before the anti-ragging cell in the polytechnic. “They wanted to prevent me from giving statement” she said. The father and the daughter were locked up in a room, from where the police had to rescue them and transport them to Kuttikanam.
The father, A J John, alleged that the principal had leaked information about his arrival with the daughter. A complaint has been filed against the prinicpal too. “The college is not a safe place. The surveillance cameras do not work,” he said.
Principal Anjana Sivadas refuted the allegation. SFI Idukki district secretary M S Sharat also rejected the charges. “We haven't threatened anyone,” he said. “In fact we are willing to help her study further in the college.”
