'Prison-like conditions': Kerala nursing student in coma for 3 months after suicide attempt over harassment by hostel warden, dies

KANNUR: A third-year nursing student, who was in a coma for more than three months following a suicide attempt, died on Saturday.
Chaithanya Kumari, 20, a student of Manzoor nursing school in Kanhangad, died at Kozhikode medical college hospital where she was undergoing treatment.
Chaithanya, a native of Kottayam, tried to end her life at her hostel room after alleged harassment by hostel warden Rajani on Dec 7, 2024. Initially, she was admitted to a private hospital in Mangaluru in a critical condition. Later, she was shifted to Kasturba medical college hospital, Mangaluru, and then to Aster MIMS, Kannur. Finally, she was shifted to Kozhikode govt medical college hospital.
Her suicide attempt had triggered widespread protests by fellow students, parents and various organisations. The victim's fellow students had alleged that they faced ‘a prison-like condition' in the hostel. The warden had denied food and water to Chaithanya when she was unwell, said the students.
Following the protests, authorities kept the warden off duty. Police had registered a case against Rajani based on a complaint by the Chaithanya's mother accusing the warden of mental harassment.
As per the complaint, Rajani had been harassing Chaithanya for a long time, forcing her to take the extreme step. Fellow students also gave statements to the police that the warden's harassment was the reason behind the suicide attempt. Rajani was booked under sections 126 and 296(b) of BNS for wrongful restraint and using obscene words.
Chaithanya is survived by her father Sadanadan, mother Omana and brother Ramkumar.