First-year engineering student in Cochin University attempts suicide after assault by seniors

After an assault incident in the hostel of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) in Kochi, a first-year engineering student allegedly attempted suicide on Tuesday, September 27. Following this, the School of Engineering campus of the university has been shut down for an indefinite period.

"A case has been registered against four students -- Sajad, Amal Mohan, Mousin and Dhaneesh -- for allegedly attacking the first-year student Muhammed Sherin. For many days, there have been clashes among the students in the campus. Three or four Students Federation of India (SFI) members are said to have attacked Sherin, who has accused the seniors for beating him for attending classes while SFI had called for a strike in the campus," Jayakrishnan S, Circle Inspector in Kalamassery, told International Business Times, India.

Fifteen to 20 seniors students, who are members of the SFI, are said to have manhandled 18-year-old Muhammed Sherin, who hails from Kuttiyadi in Kozhikode. Witnesses have also told the media that the civil engineering student was assaulted for attending classes when SFI had called for a strike on September 24. 

Sherin, who tried to kill himself by cutting his wrist, was soon admitted to a private hospital in Kalamassery and the police officer has told IBTimes India that he is in a stable condition with two stitches.

After the mishap, the university has also postponed all examinations that were scheduled for Wednesday.