CB takes over Nithin Raj death probe

T'puram: The investigation into the death of first-year BDS student of Ancharakandi self-financing dental college has been handed over to crime branch. State police chief Ravada A Chandrasekhar issued orders transferring both the unnatural death case and a separate case related to an alleged loan app to the agency.The move comes after the Kannur city police commissioner recommended that both cases be shifted, citing the need for a more comprehensive probe. The second case was registered based on a complaint by a faculty member, alleging harassment linked to a loan application.The development follows mounting pressure from the family of the deceased R L Nithin Raj who met the police chief, expressing serious concerns over the pace and direction of the investigation. The family pointed out that even 18 days after the death, the prime accused — a faculty member identified as M K Ram — has not been arrested.The family members alleged that the police were attempting to dilute the case by focusing on the loan app angle, instead of pursuing the caste-based harassment allegation they claim to have led to the student's death. According to the family, the accused subjected Raj to caste abuse, which forced him to take the extreme step. A case has been registered against the accused under charges of abetment to suicide as well as provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.Meanwhile, protests have intensified over the incident, with Dalit organisations observing a statewide hartal demanding justice for the student. In a related development, the anticipatory bail plea filed by the accused was recently rejected by the Thalassery additional district and sessions court. He is learnt to have approached the high court for relief and is suspected to have left the state for his native place in Telangana.