Mangaluru: City police have detained five second-year students from Kerala in connection with an alleged ragging incident involving two first-year students of a private college in Mangaluru. The five were taken into custody from different parts of Kerala as part of the investigation into the case registered at Mangaluru South Police Station.

The students detained have been identified as Rehan M.P., 19, from Payyannur; Mohammed Uvais, 19, from Kasaragod; Mohammed Adil, 19, from Kozhikode; Rohan Ramesh, 19, from Payyannur; and Naseed Ameer, 19, from Kannur. Police had earlier registered a case against nine students in connection with the alleged incident.

Two first-year students filed complaint

The case was registered following a complaint by 19-year-old Ameer Ali, a native of Chavakkad in Kerala and a first-year BBA student. His classmate Mahammed Alfaz was also allegedly assaulted in the incident.

According to the complaint, the two students were allegedly taken away by senior students on August 19 after they were approached while walking near their college. Police said the students were allegedly taken to an isolated location after they did not comply with demands made by the seniors.

The complaint alleges that the two students were assaulted using belts, metal rods and pipes. Other reports based on the complaint said the students were allegedly taken into a room, forced to remove their clothes and assaulted with a belt, clothes hanger and hands.

The complainants also alleged that they were threatened with serious consequences if they disclosed the incident to college authorities or police.

Dress code allegedly imposed on juniors

Police investigations into the case have indicated that the alleged assault was linked to demands made by senior students regarding the juniors’ appearance and clothing.

According to the complaint, after the students returned to college, one of the accused allegedly instructed them to attend classes clean-shaven and without shoes. Earlier reporting on the case said the alleged ragging involved senior students attempting to enforce a dress code on the juniors.

The complaint also alleges that one of the accused attacked Ameer Ali with an iron punch. The student reportedly managed to avoid the full impact of the blow.

Nine students booked in the case

Mangaluru South Police had registered a case against nine students following the complaint. The accused named in the case are Naseed Ameer, Adil M., Ashrak, Anish, Uvais, Rohan Ramesh, Adil V.P., Rehan M.P. and Shinas.

The case has been registered under Section 116 of the Karnataka Education Act, 1983, relating to ragging in educational institutions, along with several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 140(3), 127(2), 115(2), 118(1), 351(2), 109 and 190.

The five students taken into custody are among the nine named in the case. The remaining accused have been identified as Ashrak, Anish, Adil V.P. and Shinas, according to the report.

Investigation underway

The five students were detained from Payyannur, Kannur, Kozhikode and Kasaragod in Kerala, according to Mangaluru Today. Police are continuing their investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident and determine the role of each accused.

The case has drawn attention to allegations of physical assault and intimidation of junior students. Authorities are expected to examine the statements of the complainants and other evidence as the investigation progresses.

The allegations made in the complaint have not been established in court. The detention or arrest of the students does not by itself establish guilt, and the accused are entitled to due legal process.

Conclusion

Five second-year students from Kerala have been taken into custody in Mangaluru in connection with an alleged ragging case involving two first-year students. Police have registered a case against nine students under the Karnataka Education Act and BNS provisions, with further investigation underway.