Kochi: Hearing about the brutal ragging incident at the men's hostel of Kottayam Nursing College brought back painful memories for Jayaprakash, the father of 21-year-old Sidharthan, who died by suicide in February 2024 after enduring severe ragging at Pookode Veterinary College in Wayanad.

Speaking to Mathrubhumi News, Jayaprakash expressed his anguish, stating that steps should have been taken to prevent such tragedies from recurring. However, ragging has once again resurfaced, he said.

Jayaprakash also recalled the aftermath of his son's death, saying, "The killers of Sidharthan were allowed to appear for exams at the same college soon after the incident. They secured bail and walked free despite committing a horrific crime. They had no remorse."

He further questioned the claim that the hostel warden was unaware of the incident. "How can we believe that the warden knew nothing? The torture went on for three consecutive days, yet the warden claims ignorance. Both cases are eerily similar—the only difference is that in Kottayam, the victim survived."

He also alleged a political connection to the crime, stating, "The same extremist Maoist group under the banner of SFI was responsible for my son's murder. The same group committed this atrocity in Kottayam as well."

Sidharthan’s death

On February 18, 2024, Sidharthan was found hanging in the bathroom of the men's dormitory at Pookode Veterinary College. 

According to the anti-ragging squad's investigation, he had been brutally beaten by senior students and some of his peers on February 16 and 17.
On February 15, Sidharthan was on his way home to Thiruvananthapuram when the 13th accused, a fellow student, called him back to the hostel under the pretext of resolving a personal dispute involving a female classmate.

Upon returning on February 16, Sidharthan was interrogated and assaulted by the students, a torture session that continued into the night in the hostel room. The abuse extended into February 17, after which Siddharth stopped eating. On February 18, he went to the dormitory bathroom, where he was later found hanging.