Dalit student’s death puts spotlight on caste, colour bias in Kannur college

On Monday, Congress-linked students’ union KSU and RSS-linked ABVP took out marches to the college campus, demanding stern action against the teachers facing charges.

This came after an audio clip emerged on Sunday in which Nithin Raj is purportedly heard saying that a teacher openly insulted, humiliated and threatened him. Later, Nithin’s sister, Nikitha, alleged that her brother had been repeatedly subjected to insults over his complexion, caste and the occupation of his parents, who are daily wage workers.

The college students’ union chairperson, Aromal, claimed the union had in the past received complaints against one of the booked faculty members, who is the head of a department at the college. “The matter had been taken up by the principal, and the (faculty member) was kept away from duty for some time, but he was reinstated later,” Aromal claimed.

Another student, Astha, who was a classmate of Nithin’s, alleged that the head of the department used to insult all students in class “over their caste and colour”. “He found pleasure in body-shaming the students. Our seniors, too, had faced the same experience,” the student alleged, adding that the faculty member “wanted to create a climate of fear in the classroom”.

The college management, which suspended the two faculty members and ordered an inquiry, could not be reached for comment. The college principal did not respond to requests for comment either.

The Kannur City Police Commissioner on Sunday formed a special investigation team headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police (Kannur) Hariprasad to probe the case. He said that the police’s preliminary investigation showed Nithin was also under pressure from agents of an online app from which the student had purportedly taken a loan. Police claimed that agents of the lender allegedly called and threatened Nithin as well as a faculty member, who is not among those booked following his death.

While police registered an abetment of suicide case following Nithin’s death, his family have expressed suspicion that there may be foul play involved. On Monday, police said they have intensified their probe.

Shaju Philip is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, where he leads the publication's coverage from Kerala. With over 25 years of experience in mainstream journalism, he is one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political, religious, and developmental landscape of South India. Expertise, Experience, and Authority Decades of Regional Specialization: Shaju has spent more than two decades documenting the "Kerala Model" of development, its complex communal dynamics, and its high-stakes political environment. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive reporting portfolio includes: Political & Governance Analysis: In-depth tracking of the LDF and UDF coalitions, the growth of the BJP in the state, and the intricate workings of the Kerala administration. Crime & Investigative Journalism: Noted for his coverage of high-profile cases such as the gold smuggling probe, political killings, and the state’s counter-terrorism efforts regarding radicalization modules. Crisis Management: He has led ground-level reporting during major regional crises, including the devastating 2018 floods, the Nipah virus outbreaks, and the Covid-19 pandemic response. ... Read More

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