Dalit student of dental college alleges harassment by classmates

NT Correspondent

Dakshina Kannada: A Dalit dental student from Sullia town in Dakshina Kannada district on Saturday alleged that she had been abused and assaulted by her classmates who hail from Kerala. Her classmates in turn have accused her of assaulting and abusing two of the accused persons.

Pallavi NP, a student of KVG Dental College said that she had been ragged because she received a seat in the college based on reservation.

Cases have been registered under Sections 323, 504, 506 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against her classmates Vishak G Panikar, Aishwarya R, Alfa Meri Myathu, Denal Sabastin, Rishikhesh, Dayaon Vargees, among others at the Sullia Police Station. Pallavi said that her classmates had hurled casteist abuse at her, issued her death threats and asked her to quit the college.

She also claimed that the students had abused and slapped her and assaulted her brother Hareesh when he tried to intervene. Pallavi also said she had been abused for posting a “pro-Modi” status on social media. She also accused the college administration of turning a blind eye to her plight as she was being ragged.

On the other hand, one of the accused Vishak said that Pallavi, her brother Hareesh and another person had abused him and assaulted him with a jack lever. Cases under sections 324, 504, 34 of the IPC have been registered against all three of them.