Kannur, 12 April (H.S.):

The State Human Rights Commission has directed the Kannur City Police to conduct a detailed investigation into the death of first-year dental student Nithin Raj at the Ancharakandi Dental College in Kannur. The Commission has asked the police to submit a report within one week, particularly examining the serious allegations raised by the student’s family.

The directive was issued by judicial member K. Baijunath, who instructed the Kannur City Police Commissioner to ensure a thorough and time-bound probe. The Commission took up the case suo motu based on multiple media reports highlighting disturbing claims surrounding the incident.

Nithin Raj, a native of Anamangad in Thiruvananthapuram, was found critically injured after reportedly falling from a college building last Friday. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life. The circumstances leading to his fall have since triggered widespread concern and calls for accountability.

The student’s family has strongly contested initial assumptions of suicide, alleging that Nithin was subjected to continuous mental harassment by members of the college faculty. His father, Rajan, has publicly accused a teacher of humiliating his son by making derogatory remarks about his caste, complexion, and financial background.

According to the family, such verbal abuse and discrimination were not isolated incidents but part of a pattern of sustained psychological pressure. They maintain that Nithin was not someone who would take his own life and insist that institutional harassment played a decisive role in the tragedy.

The allegations have raised serious questions about the campus environment and the conduct of faculty members, prompting the Human Rights Commission to intervene swiftly. The Commission’s decision to initiate proceedings on its own underscores the gravity of the claims and the need for an impartial investigation.

Meanwhile, Nithin’s body will be handed over to his family after the post-mortem examination. It will then be taken to his residence in Uzhumalackal for the final rites.

As the investigation progresses, the focus will remain on uncovering the truth behind the student’s death and ensuring that justice is delivered.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman