The Congress on Sunday sought a CBI probe into the torture, public trial, and subsequent death of a second-year student, Sidharth, in the hostel of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Pookode in Wayanad on February 18.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan, in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said on Sunday that the details of the brutal assault that led to the death of 20-year-old Sidharthan J S on February 18, are emerging from the university.

“His parents are alleging that a mob led by SFI leaders held a public trial for days without giving him food or water and brutally assaulted him to death before hanging him. It’s a matter of grave concern that even teachers were involved in this act of brutality,” Satheesan said.

He alleged that there were serious lapses in the police investigation and that the police even attempted to protect the accused in the case.

The opposition leader demanded a CBI probe into Sidharth’s death to unravel the conspiracy behind the incident. He said that a fair probe cannot be expected from the state police.

“We cannot expect a fair investigation from the police. Such an incident should not be repeated in Kerala. The family is demanding a CBI probe. The state government should consider all the factors and hand over the case to the CBI to bring out the facts and conspiracy behind the incident,” Satheesan said.

Meanwhile, Kerala Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J Chinchu Rani ordered the suspension of the dean and the assistant warden of the Pookode Veterinary College in Wayanad for the barbaric torture, public trial, and subsequent death of the second-year student in the hostel on February 18.

The minister said that there was a lapse on the part of the dean and the assistant warden and that the dean should have been in the hostel.

“Lapses have been found on the part of the dean. As the warden, he was supposed to be in the hostel. He doesn’t need to talk about the shortage of staff. He has failed to discharge his duties,” Chinchu Rani said.

She also announced that CCTV cameras would be installed in the hostel in the wake of the violence that led to Sidharth’s death.

The remand report has made severe allegations against the 18 accused in the case. According to the report, Sidharth was beaten up because he was accused of misbehaving with his classmate. Sidharth, who had proceeded home on February 15, was summoned back with a grim warning that if he did not return to the college a police case would be registered against him. He was even assured that the issue could be settled as per the unwritten rules of the hostel. Accordingly, on February 16 morning, Sidharth returned to the college but the accused detained him and did not allow him to leave the hostel.

At 9 pm that night, the accused started beating Sidharth. The accused also took him to different places on the campus and brutally beat him up. They brought him back to the hostel and resumed beating him in room number 21. Later, he was taken to the courtyard of the hostel where, after stripping him to underwear, the accused beat him up with a belt and a cable wire. The beating continued till 2’O clock in the morning on February 17. According to the remand report, the accused brought things to such a level that there was no escape for Sidharth, except death.

Meanwhile, in a significant revelation that could shed more light on Sidharth’s death, a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by his classmate Nakshatra to a mutual friend came to light on Saturday.

Sidharth’s father Jayaprakash said he received a screenshot of the message which said she knows what happened to Sidharth. The details have been passed on to the investigation team, he said. The message cryptically mentioned that Nakshatra knew what had happened but she would not divulge more details. Jayaprakash said he would pursue the matter further.

“Sidharth stood by Nakshatra through all her hardships when others hesitated to support her. Yet she refuses to reciprocate when he needs it. I am ready to take on anyone trying to cover up the truth. They’re all at fault. Next, I’ll lodge a complaint against Nakshatra. If investigations falter, I’ll approach the higher authorities or pursue legal action,” Jayaprakash said.

Talking about the lack of support from his classmates, Sidharth’s mother M R Sheeba said, “Sidharth was a vocal supporter of Nakshatra when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a fellow batchmate, a livestock inspector, who stays in the institution. Sidharth even urged for the perpetrator’s suspension. Can he ever misbehave with any other girl?” she asked.

“I am determined to bring out the truth behind my son’s death. Come what may, I will expose every single person involved in his death,” she said.