News Brief
Kerala: Catholic Bishops Council Concerned Over Alleged Attacks On Church-Run Educational Institutions After Protests Over Shradha Satheesh Suicide
Swarajya News Staff
Jun 08, 2023, 11:21 AM | Updated 11:21 AM IST
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After the recent protests by students against the management of the church-run Amal Jyothi College of Engineering in Kanjirapally of Kottayam district, over the suicide of a 20-year-old female student Shradha Satheesh, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) has expressed concern over alleged attacks on church-run educational institutions.
It has asked the state government to provide protection to the institutions.
Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, who heads the KCBC said that the church would cooperate with the police for a full and fair investigation.
The students have said that while Shradha was found hanging in her hostel room, the college authorities told the hospital that she was found unconscious.
The students have said that Shradha, a student enrolled in the food technology programme, committed suicide due to pressure from teachers. Further, they accused the management of trying to suppress the matter by asking the students to vacate the hostels and go home.
However, students did not leave the college and protested on the premises. Student unions like the Student Federation of India (SFI), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Kerala Students Union (KSU) also held protest marches.
Their demands include the removal of the hostel warden and the head of the food technology department.
The protests ended after a meeting with Higher Education Minister R Bindu. She announced that the investigation would be conducted by the Crime Branch and headed by a Superintendent of Police. The college is scheduled to reopen on Monday (12 June).
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