Dalit Dental Student Dies by Suicide Over Caste Harassment

A 22-year-old first-year dental student from Thiruvananthapuram died on Sunday after jumping from a building at Anjarakandy Medical College in Kannur, Kerala, on April 10, amid allegations of sustained harassment by faculty members over his caste and complexion.

Nithin Raj, a Dalit student who had secured admission to the Bachelor of Dental Surgery program through merit, fell critically injured near the college campus that Friday afternoon. He was rushed to Kannur Medical College Hospital but succumbed to his injuries two days later. His family, including father Rajan, a painter by profession, claimed Nithin endured repeated verbal abuse from teachers, including derogatory remarks about his dark skin, caste, and family's modest background. Rajan told reporters that faculty members publicly humiliated his son, insulted his occupation, and ridiculed Nithin's mother's recent surgery. "They threatened to fail him if he complained," Rajan said, adding that Nithin had worked tirelessly without financial support to gain entry.

Nithin's sister, Nikitha, alleged he faced escalating abuse after filing complaints with the college principal, who took no action. She recounted an incident...