Jishnu Pranoy suicide: Kerala college students who protested could be suspended, say reports

Four students who protested against Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre in Thrissur over the death of its student Jishnu Pranoy who committed suicide, could face disciplinary action from the college.

As per the reports, parents of these four students were not invited for the PTA (parent-teachers association) meeting, which was held after the college reopened on Wednesday following a month’s closure and authorities have informed the students that they could face suspension.

Following this, the SFI (Students Federation of India) members started protests outside the college.

The four students viz. Athul Jose, Nikhil Antony, Sujesh and Muhammed Aashiq were the first to bring out the news of Jishnu’s death along with problems faced by students in the college.

The PTA meeting was called before the reopening of Pharmacy college under Nehru institutions. When the parents of these students were not invited, the college gave an explanation that the students would be suspended soon, students told media.

But the college said that no action has been taken against the students yet.

"When we came to attend, the authorities told us not to attend classes because we were responsible for all the protests. They also said that this is why our parents were not called for the meeting," students further told media.

For the last one month, protests have been raging against the college authorities by different student organisations. The college was shut ever since Jishnu’s death on January 6.

Jishnu, a native of Nadapuram in Kozhikode, hung himself in the college hostel after he was allegedly harassed by authorities after being "caught" cheating in the examination.

Jishnu's death had sparked widespread agitation, with student political bodies vandalising college property on several occasions. Following this, the college management suspended five of its officials.

Jishnu's family and other students of the college had accused the management of physically and mentally harassing Jishnu, and causing his death. His family had also filed a complaint with the state's Chief Minister demanding that a criminal case be registered against the guilty individuals.