Kochi, Feb. 15 -- Ragging of three freshers by third year students of Government Nursing College at Kottayam in Kerala is the fall out of the refusal of the former to part with hafta money demanded by the seniors to buy liquor and drugs, according to the cops investigating the case. Many parents expressed their reservation and apprehension over sending their wards to professional colleges in the state following the gruesome ragging incident at the Kottayam nursing college.

Lakshmana Perumal, father of one of the students, told media that the perpetrators of the crime belonged to the SFI, the student wing of the CPI(M) and enjoyed political patronage. "My son had told me about the cruelties perpetrated on him and others by the senior stud...