Kerala guv suspends V-C for ragging death of student

IN a major embarrassment to the LDF government, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has suspended Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University vice-chancellor Dr M R Saseendranath in the wake of the death of J S Sidharth, a second year student of the veterinary college at Pookode in Wayanad district.

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 The governor initiated a probe into the incident and wrote to the High Court registrar, seeking a sitting judge's service for a judicial probe.

The suspension order issued by the governor on Saturday also stated that P C Saseendran, a former professor with the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU), will replace Saseendranath, as officiating vice-chancellor. Sidharth J S was found hanging in the bathroom of the boys' hostel of the institute on February 18.

Sidharth had allegedly undergone a mob trial at the hostel on February 16 led by around 20 students, including SFI leaders, in front of more than 100 hostel inmates. The mob trial was allegedly based on a complaint raised by a female student that Sidharth had misbehaved with her on February 14.