Dakshina Kannada: Dalit student accuses classmates of ragging, harassment in Sullia

Bengaluru: A dental student in Dakshina Kannada’s Sullia taluk has accused her classmates, who hail from Kerala, of ragging and harassment, police officials said. Pallavi NP, a Dalit, filed a complaint against Vishak G Panikar, Aishwarya R, Alfa Meri Myathu, Denal Sabastin, Rishikhesh, Dayaon Vargees and others, at the Sullia Police Station. Pallavi, a third-year post-graduation student at KVG Dental College and Hospital in Sullia, alleged that the six students had “abused and mentally tortured” her since she received a government seat based on merit.

“They threatened and asked me to leave my studies. They abused me and hurled casteist slurs at me and also issued death threats. On December 21, around 10 pm, when my brother and I went to drop one of my friends at his house after we had dinner, I was abused and slapped by Vishak and others, who were on the spot,” Pallavi, 27, alleged. “They stomped me when I fell to the ground. When my brother came to my rescue, he was also assaulted,” she added. Pallavi was first admitted to a government hospital in Sullia and was later moved to Mysuru for additional treatment.

The police booked the six under Sections 323, 504, 506 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Pallavi also accused her college of inaction and claimed that she had informed the principal and her Head of the Department (HoD) a day after the assault. Meanwhile, Vishak, the primary accused, filed a counter-complaint accusing Pallavi, her brother and her friend Hareesh of assaulting him.

Vishak, who is also a third-year student, claimed that he was assaulted by Pallavi, her brother, Harish and an unknown person. “On December 21, at around 10.30 pm, I was chased by an Innova car when I went to drop my friend, off to his paying guest. In the car was Pallavi, her brother, Hareesh and an unknown person, who held my shirt collar, abused me and assaulted me using a jack lever,” Vishak alleged.

“Pallavi had assaulted one of my friends, Divya, earlier. And since I was a witness to it, Pallavi and others abused and assaulted me,” he added. Copies of both complaints were seen by News9. Based on Vishak’s complaint, the Sullia police booked Pallavi, her brother, Hareesh and an unknown person under Sections 324,504,34 of the IPC. Further investigations were underway by the police.

Courtesy : News Nine

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