Kerala dental student mowed in Karnataka cremated, family to seek govt help

Kozhikode, April 15: The family of a 24-year-old Keralite student, who succumbed to injuries yesterday after being knocked down by two motorbike-borne seniors of her college in Karnataka, is planning to seek the help of Kerala government to ensure strict action against the accused.

The mishap occurred on March 23 during Holi celebrations at Sri Siddhartha Dental College campus in Tumkur and the two boys who mowed Nileena Chandran, a second year student of Master of Dental Surgery who was riding her scooter, were in an inebriated condition, her family said.

Nileena died yesterday after fighting for her life for 24 days. After postmortem last night, the body was brought to her native village Valiakode near Perambara in Kozhikode district early today and cremation was held by noon, said Sujith, a police official and who is also her relative.

According to Karnataka police, one person has been arrested in connection with the case on April 4. However, Nileena's family members said they were not satisfied with the progress of the investigation. "We are not satisfied with the way Karnataka police is handling the case.

Karnataka Home Minister's brother is said to be one of the directors of the college. So we plan to seek the support and intervention of the Kerala government to hold a proper enquiry in the matter and ensure stringent punishment to the accused," Sujith said.

In a similar incident, 20-year-old engineering student Tasni Basheer had lost her life at the prestigious College of Engineering Trivandrum here last year. The student had been critically injured after she was allegedly mowed down by a jeep, driven by a group of senior students, during Onam celebrations.

PTI