Family members say the victim faced caste discrimination from seniors in the college. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
The death of a young dental student in Kannur has thrown a sharp light on the growing menace of predatory loan applications. Despite regular crackdowns by law enforcement agencies, the loan application ecosystem continues to evolve, leaving several vulnerable to such abuses in Kerala.
The late Nithin Raj RL, a first-year BDS student, allegedly took a loan of around ₹14,000 through an online application, after which he is suspected to have been subjected to relentless intimidation. Nithin is suspected to have borrowed the money between December last year and January. In the following weeks, he is said to have repeatedly been contacted by law enforcement agents.
Published – 13 Apr 2026 20:32 IST
