KOTTAYAM: Five of the eight students accused in the ragging case in Government Polytechnic College (GPC), Nattakom in Kottayam, in which a first-year student suffered serious kidney damage, surrendered before police, on Sunday night.
The police recorded the arrest of Sankaran (18), Jerin (18), both hailing from Ernakulam; Jayaprakash (18) of Vandiperiar, Jayson of Chalakkudi and Manu (18) of Thriuvananthapuram who surrendered before Changanassery deputy superintendent of police.
The accused will be produced before the court on Monday. Meanwhile, police have intensified the search for the rest three accused in the case, identified as Abhilash, Praveen, and Rayson.
Earlier, the police had slapped various charges including IPC 307 (attempt to murder), following medical reports of the two ragging victims that had shown serious injuries.
On December 2, nine first-year students at GPC were brutally ragged by a gang of senior students at its men’s hostel, led by a former student. Among the nine students, Avinash, hailing from Iringalakkuda, Thrissur and Shaiju D Gopi, from Cheranallur, Ernakulam were seriously injured and were admitted to a private hospital in Thrissur and General Hospital Ernakulam respectively. According to sources, students were forced to drink undiluted alcohol, leaving Avinash with serious kidney damages. He reportedly underwent dialysis. Later, his father Sivadasan filed a complaint at Chingavanam police.
Meanwhile, Shaiju, who was physically worn out after the incident, was admitted to General Hospital, Ernakulam and lodged a complaint at Cheranallur police station, which was later forwarded to Chingavanam police. The police registered two separate cases in connection with the incident, against eight students.
"Apart from the Kerala Prohibition of Ragging Act, they have slapped IPC 307 and charges under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in the complaint filed by Avinash," said Changanassery circle inspector Binu Varghese.