The authorities of the Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College have said that the gang attack that occurred on the campus recently was an isolated incident.
Addressing a news conference here on Wednesday, college manager Maya Govind; Principal T. Ramchandran; and board member P.C. Rethi Thampatty, said that an accused, Athul Sreeva, arrested in connection with extorting money from junior students, was removed from the rolls for failing to appear in two consecutive semester examinations.
The Principal said that a complaint by a junior student against Athul was immediately forwarded to the police. But for minor issues such as the ones that occur on college campuses across the State, nothing serious had not taken place at the Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College, Mr. Ramachandran said.
The college management had taken appropriate measures in the past three years to curb student violence. It had expelled all students involved in violence in 2014. No gangs with criminal activities operated on the campus, he said.
The anti-ragging cell was effectively functioning on the campus. Besides, around 70 per cent of the students were girls, the Principal said.
The issue came to the foreground after criminal gangs reportedly beat up junior students and extorted money from them. Already, the Kasaba police have started a crackdown on these gangs named Brahmas, Aryas, Budhas, Kshatriyas, and Yadavas.
Some of these gangs had also linked with outside groups. Athul, a mini screen actor, was the leader of a gang.
The accused was charged under Section 341 (wrongful restraint), 308 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) and 392 (robbery) of the Indian Penal Code. He was produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrate’s court and remanded in judicial custody, the police said.