Students protest shifting of Kaniyoor College, urge swift probe in Rathna death case

Mangalore, Jul 15: Over a couple of hundred students from different colleges around the city undertook a massive protest rally under the aegis of Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Tuesday, demanding a swift investigation in the mysterious death of 17-year-old student Rathna Kothari who was found dead near Byndoor in Kundapur taluk three days ago.

Shouting slogans, the students marched from Ambedkar Circle in a protest rally which culminated in front of Deputy Commissioner's office on Tuesday. The students also protested against the recent shifting of Kaniyoor Model Government First Grade College to Belandoor.

Addressing the students, ABVP member Shyamprasad Bhat from University College, Mangalore said that the government was turning a blind eye to the problems of students in Dakshina Kannada. No justice has been met to students such as Saujanya, Akshata and others who were found murdered. Although the cases are being investigated, the investigation process is delayed and no case has come to a conclusion, he said, urging for a swift and impartial inquiry into the death of Rathna Kothari.

Another student representative Prajwal from Vivekananda College, Puttur said that the Kaniyoor Government College had been unnecessarily shifted to Belandoor, causing inconvenience to the students studying there. Classes are temporarily being held in makeshift classrooms in Belandoor where there are no basic facilities or proper classrooms. The education department authorities should not allow the situation to deteriorate further and compel the student union to resort to state-level demonstrations, he said.

ABVP member Ashwini said that although there were continuous assaults on students and women in the recent times, the police failed to take any action against the perpetrators. No arrests have been made in this regard. Why is the government keeping mum on this? This is purely due to the craftiness of political parties, she said, urging for a comprehensive probe in the death of the student.

The protestors also demanded that the Kaniyoor College should be shifted back to its previous location.

The student representatives submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.