Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Friday visited the family of 20-year-old Siddharthan, a student of the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Pookode in Wayanad, who was found hanging in his hostel bathroom on February 18 and urged all political parties to “give up violence to achieve political ends”.
Siddharthan’s death has caused a stir in the political waters of the state.
The police had initially started an investigation into it as a case of unnatural death, however, his family alleged that it was not a case of suicide but of murder. They further further claimed that the accused are a part of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of CPIM and that the party and the college are protecting them.
Speaking to the media, the Governor said that despite Kerala having 100% literacy and a great cultural and literary heritage, “certain forces are promoting the cult of violence” in the society.
Khan said that young people were being “trained in violent methods, high-handedness and bullying”.
“I appeal to Kerala society and every party to rethink their strategies. Give up violence. Violence, ultimately, does not solve any problems. Violence is a negation of civilised conduct, democracy, ethical values, humanity and humanness. So, I appeal to each and every political party to give up violence as a method to achieve political ends and to stop training the youngsters in violent methods,” the Governor said.
Arif Mohammed Khan, on being asked whether he also believes that SFI is behind the death of the 20-year-old student, said that it was “obvious”.
He also claimed that everyone, including the police and the college authorities, knew that the SFI was allegedly involved in the death of the victim. The SFI, however, has denied these allegations.
Without mentioning names, the Governor further said, “They want to create an army of people who cannot apply for passports or jobs anywhere due to the criminal cases against them, and become totally dependent on some political leaders.”
Khan stated that he had come to meet the parents of Siddharthan and share their grief. “My heart goes out to the family. They are a brave family. My sympathies are with them,” he said.
As of now, nine students have been arrested in connection with his death.
Siddharthan father has claimed that according to the postmortem report, his son’s body had three days’ worth of injuries and an empty stomach, which indicated that he was brutally beaten up and not given any food.
(With PTI inputs)
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