Three days after a female nursing student went into a state of coma following an alleged suicide attempt, her hostel warden has been booked for threatening and wrongful restraint. According to the First Information Report (FIR), the warden verbally abused the woman on December 7 for returning late to the hostel, following which she attempted death by suicide in her hostel room in Kerala’s Kasaragod.
The student, 20-year-old Chaithanya Kumari, a native of Parappa, was pursuing her third year of nursing at the Manzoor Hospital and School of Nursing, Kanhangad, in Kasaragod. The FIR mentions that she was ill and had gone to the hospital where she was administered an intravenous drip on December 7. It was after this that she returned to the hostel.
“We were not able to take Chaithanya’s statement, and a case has been registered based on her mother’s complaint,” Ajith Kumar P, Hosdurg Police Station Inspector, told TNM. The warden has been booked under Sections 126(2) (wrongful restraint), 296(b) (uttering obscene words), and 351(3) (intimidation involving threats of death) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sannhita.
Meanwhile, the college management suspended the warden after an internal investigation. However, students and parents have raised several allegations against the management to the media, including that students are not allowed to use mobile phones and do not even get proper vacation breaks.
Students and youth organisations, including the Student Federation of India, Kerala Students Union, and Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad, conducted a protest at the nursing school on December 9.
Ajith Kumar said that further proceedings will be initiated once they get a statement from Chaithanya.
If you are aware of anyone facing mental health issues or feeling suicidal, please provide help. Here are some helpline numbers of suicide-prevention organisations that can offer emotional support to individuals and families.
Tamil Nadu
State health department's suicide helpline: 104
Sneha Suicide Prevention Centre - 044-24640050 (listed as the sole suicide prevention helpline in Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh
Life Suicide Prevention: 78930 78930
Roshni: 9166202000, 9127848584
Karnataka
Sahai (24-hour): 080 65000111, 080 65000222
Kerala
Maithri: 0484 2540530
Chaithram: 0484 2361161
Both are 24-hour helpline numbers.
Telangana
State government's suicide prevention (tollfree): 104
Roshni: 040 66202000, 6620200
SEVA: 09441778290, 040 27504682 (between 9 am and 7 pm
Aasara offers support to individuals and families during an emotional crisis, for those dealing with mental health issues and suicidal ideation, and to those undergoing trauma after the suicide of a loved one.
24x7 Helpline: 9820466726
Click here for working helplines across India.