Kasaragod, Aug 21: The third year civil engineering student of College of Engineering Thiruvanantha puram (CET) who was seriously injured after being mowed down by a jeep driven by her college mates who were part of Onam revellery inside the campus on Wednesday evening, succumbed to her injuries late on Thursday night.
Following the mishap, Thasni Basheer, 20, a student hailing from Nilambur in Malappuram, was admitted to a private hospital here. Though she had undergone three surgeries after being out on ventilator support, her life could not be saved.
The Sreekaryam police said the jeep carrying around 15 students was driven by a fourth year mechanical student identified as Baiju, hailing from Kannur.
The police, who have registered a murder attempt case against Baiju and 15 others, are yet to make any arrest. Meanwhile, the victim’s family alleged that the students were in an inebriated state.
Quoting eye-witnesses, the police said the student revellers entered the campus in two roofless jeeps and a mini lorry on Wednesday afternoon, flouting the college rules. The overspeeding jeep driven by Baiju took several rounds on the campus before it tilted at a curve and hit the victim, around 3.30 pm.
The college management invited sharp criticism from various quarters for its delay in reporting the matter to the police. The incident was reported to the police around 8 pm, which, according to some parents, was after a failed attempt to hush up the incident.
On Thursday, the college principal told reporters that 12 students, all members of the college union, were suspended from the college. “The students did not seek the mandatory permission to bring in the vehicles. The CCTV visuals of the accident will be handed over to the police,” he said. In 2002, Amita Shankar, a fourth semester student had been killed by a speeding bike inside the campus.
Norms violated
The mishap on the CET campus would have been avoided had the Onam celebrations been conducted as per regulations which restrict vehicles inside the campus. Also, the jeep KBF 7268 was hardly roadworthy when it sped inside the campus with close to a dozen people on board, and some standing near the driver blocking the windshield.
Even before the bike mishap that killed Amita Shankar in 2002, vehicles of students were banned from venturing onto the campus. The security men were to ensure that vehicles are parked at the entrance and students walk up to the college.
“Guards say they are often threatened by students and there are a couple of open jeeps which often speed outside the campus. The security men here were not adequately empowered as they belong to a private firm,” said CET principal J. David.
“College Hostel Union members had sought the permission for Onam celebration as college was to remain closed for 10 days from Friday. College inquiry committee is expected to submit a report in two weeks but best efforts will be taken to complete inquiry in two days,” the principal added.
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