- विज्ञापन -
Thiruvananthapuram: A 22-year-old BTech student from Mizoram, identified as Valentine, was fatally stabbed near his college in Thiruvananthapuram. He was studying at the Rajadhani Institute of Engineering & Technology in Nagaroor. Police have arrested a batchmate, also from Mizoram, in connection with the incident.
The stabbing occurred around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 22, at a location about 200 meters from the college. Emergency responders were alerted by locals, and Valentine was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to KIMS Hospital, where he died from his injuries the following morning.
Initial investigations indicate that a dispute between the two students, which may have escalated due to alcohol consumption, led to the violent attack. Both individuals had previously been expelled from their college hostel due to recurring conflicts. The suspect was detained at the scene, and further inquiries are ongoing.
This incident adds to the growing concern over campus violence in Kerala, which has seen several fatal altercations among students. Although many clashes are politically motivated, personal disputes have also resulted in violence. Recent years have seen notable murders involving students, illustrating the alarming trend of escalating conflicts within educational institutions.
According to data shared in the Kerala State Assembly, incidents of campus violence have spiked since 2016, with police reporting 500 cases, including three murders, from May 2016 to June 2024. A report attributed many of these incidents to student groups like the SFI (CPI(M) affiliated) and KSU (Congress-linked), revealing that 270 cases involved SFI members and 112 involved KSU activists. Additional incidents tied to other political student organizations have also been recorded, with over 3,183 students facing charges across the last nine years.
As investigations proceed into Valentine’s murder, authorities are working to understand the events that led to this tragic confrontation, emphasizing the ongoing issue of student safety and violence in Kerala’s colleges.
