Residents of Thiruvangulam in Kochi, along with the family and friends of Sradha Satheesh, staged a protest in front of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering in Kottayam’s Koovapally on Tuesday, June 13, demanding justice for her. Sradha, a 20-year-old engineering student of the college and a resident of Thiruvangulam, died by suicide in her college hostel on June 2. The protest was joined by several local political leaders cutting across all parties, including the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Congress, and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Speaking to TNM, Raghu Nandanan, a friend of Sradha’s family, said that around 197 persons participated in the protest. “The main demand was to conduct an impartial investigation into the death of Sradha and disclose the details of the ongoing investigation to the family. We also want to make sure that the college is not influencing the probe in any way,” he said.
Though Sradha was found dead on June 2, the inaction and apathy of the college management, run by the Catholic Diocese of Kanjirapally, led to widespread student protests at the Amal Jyothi campus on June 5. In the days that folwed, the protests intensified, leading to students being manhandled by the police, locked up inside hostels by the college, and being targeted by the staff members. Disturbing details of moral policing and the use of abusive language by the staff also surfaced with several alumni members of the college sharing experiences and extending their support to the protesting students.
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.