Kerala Dental Student's Suicide: Harassment Allegations & HRC Probe

Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student at Anjarakandy Dental College in Kannur, Kerala, was found dead on the college campus on Friday, April 10, 2026, in a suspected case of suicide. The 19-year-old student (some reports state 23) was a native of Uzhamalakkal in Thiruvananthapuram. His untimely death has sparked widespread outrage and prompted serious allegations of mental harassment, including caste-based discrimination, against faculty members of the college. Nithin's family has come forward with strong accusations, claiming that their son endured continuous abuse and humiliation from college authorities and teachers. His father, Rajan, alleged that Nithin was mocked for his dark skin, ridiculed for his family's background as daily wage labourers, and specifically targeted because he belonged to a Scheduled Caste. These allegations suggest a deeper issue of casteism and discrimination prevalent within educational institutions. Crucially, audio clips purportedly sent by Nithin to his family have surfaced and been widely circulated, detailing the alleged harassment he faced. In these voice messages, Nithin reportedly describes verbal abuse, threats of physical harm, and mocking by a teacher identified as Dr. M. K. Ram. He also mentioned being called an 'idiot' and threatened with physical harm, stating that a faculty member had threatened to cut off his limbs and make him live like an invalid. Furthermore, Nithin alleged that he was insulted about his mother's surgery and that his answer sheets were circulated to highlight his spelling mistakes. His sister, Nikitha, also claimed that Nithin was distressed after visiting the staff room, where he was allegedly threatened with mark deductions and difficult exam scheduling. These audio clips serve as crucial evidence supporting the family's claims. Following these grave allegations, the Anjarakandy Dental College administration has suspended two faculty members pending an inquiry. The suspended teachers are Dr. M. K. Ram, Head of the Dental Anatomy Department, and Dr. Sangeetha (also referred to as Associate Professor K T Sangeetha Nambiar). While college principal Dr. Vinod Mony initially denied receiving any formal complaints related to caste abuse from Nithin or his family, the college has stated its cooperation with the ongoing police investigation and has also formed an internal inquiry committee. The State Human Rights Commission (HRC) has taken a serious view of the matter, registering a suo moto case following media reports and ordering an inquiry by the City Police Commissioner. Judicial member K. Baijunath has instructed the Kannur City Police to conduct a detailed investigation and submit a report within one week. The Chakkarakkal police have registered a case under Section 194 (unnatural death) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and are actively collecting digital evidence, with plans to record statements from classmates, college authorities, and family members. This incident has ignited a public outcry and raised critical questions about casteism and harassment in higher education campuses across India, especially in professional colleges, despite constitutional safeguards against social discrimination. Political leaders, including Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala, have called for a high-level probe, emphasizing the need for the government to take the family's allegations seriously. The body of Nithin Raj was brought to his home in Uzhamalakkal for funeral rites after the post-mortem. The community and various organizations are demanding a thorough and impartial investigation to ascertain the exact circumstances leading to Nithin's death and to ensure justice.

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