Tamil Nadu Student Stripped, Hit With Slippers At Hostel; 3 Minors Detained

Chennai: An incident of severe ragging has come to light at a government hostel in Tamil Nadu's Madurai, where an Industrial Training Institute (ITI) student was subjected to humiliation and stripped by fellow students, according to police reports. Authorities have taken three juveniles into custody following the incident.

A disturbing 40-second video clip, which NDTV cannot independently verify, shows the victim completely unclothed while being harassed by several students. In the footage, one student is seen holding a towel that the victim apparently tried to use to cover himself before being stripped.

The video reveals the victim's desperate pleas to be allowed to put on his trousers, but his requests are callously ignored by the perpetrators.

The recording shows three students actively participating in the harassment - one filming the incident, another striking the victim with a slipper, and a third making inappropriate comments about the victim's private parts. Several other students can be seen in the vicinity, passively observing the distressing scene.

"The students attend an ITI and reside at the Kallar Reclamation Hostel at Chekkanoorani. Based on our information, the incident occurred on September 18th. We are currently interrogating the juveniles involved in this case," a senior police officer informed NDTV.

The opposition AIADMK has attributed this incident to what they claim is an increasing problem of drug abuse in the state.

AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan stated, "There is a disconnect between the values being taught in schools and what students are engaging in. The ruling DMK should feel ashamed."

While the state government has yet to release an official statement on the matter, representatives of the ruling DMK party have assured that legal processes will be followed. DMK spokesperson Dr. Syed Hafeezullah said, "We have rigorous anti-ragging laws and systems in place. The Warden has been suspended and legal action will proceed accordingly."

Previously, state officials and law enforcement have rejected allegations regarding drug issues, maintaining that Tamil Nadu is neither a drug manufacturing hub nor a state with high consumption rates. They often reference NCRB data to support this position.