Statewide Shutdown Over Student’s Death Affects Normal Life in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The statewide hartal called by various Dalit organizations to demand a comprehensive probe into the death of Nithin Raj, a dental student in Kannur, partially affected normal life across Kerala today. The dawn-to-dusk protest, which began at 6:00 AM, was organized to seek stringent action against faculty members accused of harassing the student.

While the protest committee had earlier stated that vehicles would not be forcibly blocked, attempts to obstruct KSRTC buses were reported in major centers including Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kannur. Police had to intervene at Thampanoor and Kaniyapuram in the capital after protesters tried to halt traffic. In Adoor, police forcibly removed activists who were blocking the main roads. While most private buses remained off the roads, essential services were excluded from the purview of the shutdown.

Nithin Raj, a first-year BDS student at the Anjarakandy Dental College in Kannur, was found dead under mysterious circumstances on April 10. His family has alleged that persistent caste-based discrimination and mental harassment by certain faculty members led to his death. Although cases have been registered against two teachers, nearly 52 organizations joined the protest today, alleging that the investigation is being sabotaged by influential forces.