Kerala govt announces CBI probe into death of veterinary student in Wayanad

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday decided to refer to the CBI the investigation into the recent death of a Veterinary University student that has rocked the state.

A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that the father and relatives of the student -- 20-year-old Sidharthan J S -- came to meet Vijayan and demanded that the case be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The chief minister told them that the police investigation was going on and all the accused had already been arrested through a flawless and fair probe, the statement said.

However, as the victim's mother has also submitted a petition seeking a CBI probe, Vijayan informed the family that he has decided to leave the investigation of the case to the CBI, respecting their sentiments, it said.

The statement came shortly after the victim's father told reporters here that Vijayan assured him that the case would be handed over to the CBI if it is required.

The father said that he met the chief minister today and sought a CBI probe into the death of his son who was found hanging inside the bathroom of the college hostel on February 18.

"The CM said that if a CBI probe is required, then it will be ordered. He has given me that assurance," the victim's father said.

He also said that he informed Vijayan that in view of the injuries suffered by his son, as noted in the post mortem report, many doctors have said that Sidharthan could not have even stood up to hang himself.

"Therefore, I told the CM that my son was killed and it was not a suicide," he said.

He also told reporters that the mere suspension of the Dean of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Pookode in Wayanad district of the state and the assistant warden of the hostel, where Sidharthan died, was not enough.

"They should be dismissed from service and should also face legal action," he demanded.

He said that if the probe is handed over to the CBI, he has a lot more to tell that agency about the dean and the assistant warden.

The police in its remand report regarding one of the accused in the case had told a court recently that the victim was assaulted viciously.

The report said that a belt and a cable wire were used to assault Sidharthan.

It said that his classmates and senior held a public trial inside the hostel alleging that he had misbehaved with a girl student of the college.

"He was stripped down to his underwear and the accused assaulted him. Some of them used a belt and a cable wire," the report said.

It said that the assault began on February 16 at around 9 PM and lasted till 2 AM on February 17.

Police have charged the 18 accused in the case under sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapon), 306 (Abetment of suicide), of the Indian Penal Code and relevant sections of the Kerala Prohibition Of Ragging Act.

Sidharthan was a second-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student.

His parents have claimed that some of his college mates told them that he was beaten to death by some local SFI leaders and activists.

The father contended that according to the postmortem report, his son's body had injuries and an empty stomach, indicating that he was brutally beaten up and not given any food.

Sidharthan's death has led to widespread protests against SFI and the ruling Left government by the Congress-led opposition and its various wings.

The opposition and the BJP alleged that the ruling CPI(M)'s student wing SFI beat Sidharthan to death.

The Students Federation of India (SFI) has denied the allegations.