Activists Attack Church College Over Girl’s Suicide; Damage Put At Rs 1.5 Million

THIRUVALLA, Kerala, MAR. 27, 2008, 16.40 Hrs (SAR News):

Activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist in Kerala state, March 25 attacked the Mar Athanasios College for Applied Sciences and Technology (MACFAST) here, alleging mental harassment of students.

MACFAST is a self-financing minority educational institution run by the Thiruvalla Archdiocese of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Property worth about Rs 1.5 million was damaged by the vandals, a spokesman for the archdiocese told SAR News, March 26.

The provocation for the attack was the suicide of a 23-year-old computer science student, Sumi Surendran, who allegedly slashed her wrist and ended her life, March 25, at her residence at Chavara, Kollam district.

In a suicide note recovered from her room, Sumi had allegedly

stated that the college authorities had ignored her complaint on her laptop missing from the college hostel, March 13.

She had left for Chavara, March 16, after the closure of the college for Easter holidays. Sumi was also critical of the attitude of the college authorities.

According to college principal, Abraham Mulamoottil, a group of youths wielding canes and iron bars gate-crashed into the college campus March 25 afternoon, smashed the glass-panes and damaged furniture and other articles in the college office and the cabins of the manager and the principal.

He said the youths barged into the principal’s room and threatened him. However, they did not harm him.

The third semester business management examination was under way when the intruders barged in, and the 200-odd students taking their exam were about to retaliate, but the teachers urged them to maintain peace, the principal added.

The SFI activists also staged a sit-in agitation in front of the principal’s cabin, shouting slogans against the management and demanding his arrest.

A police party led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Thomas John, arrived at the college and arrested fifteen SFI activists, including its district secretary R. Manu.

Meanwhile, SFI state joint secretary, Roshan Roy Mathew, and district unit leaders alleged that the college management was responsible for the suicide of the girl student. The SFI leaders demanded an inquiry into the circumstances that led to the suicide.

Education Minister M.A. Baby visited the house of the deceased student at Chavara, March 25. He said the government would order an inquiry into her suicide.

Attack decried:
Archbishop Thomas Koorilos of Thiruvalla described the attack on the college as yet another instance of an organised move by the CPI-M led Left Democratic Front government and its feeder organisations, to tarnish the image of the educational institutions run by the minority communities.

He said the college management had nothing to do with the suicide of the girl student.

The management had even consoled the student after she had lost her laptop and promised to provide another one to her when the college reopened after Easter holidays, he said.

But unfortunately, the college received a phone call on her death March 25 morning and the college staff, students and others paid homage to the departed student, the archbishop said.