4 booked for ragging at govt commerce college

TNN 30 August 2009, 05:14am IST

GANDHINAGAR: A first year student of Government Commerce College in Sector 20 was admitted to Civil Hospital here after he was beaten up
mercilessly by senior colleagues on Saturday. Four students have been booked for ragging after a complaint was lodged with Sector 21 police station.

The accused, one of them identified as Ajaysinh Darbar, allegedly injured the victim seriously by kicking him in his groins. The victim told police that the accused had objected to his presence in the college and thrashed him.

The college management has launched an independent inquiry into the matter to find out whether the accused were from other college. "If the accused turn out to be students from our college, they will be suspended," said an official of the college.

Meanwhile, police have registered the case and started probe. "The victim hails from Sector 5-C and is a native of Palitana. He is a bright student with excellent record in sports and extra circular activities," said a police official.

3 BIT students punished for ragging on campus

Anil Ashutosh, TNN 28 August 2009, 05:52am IST

SINDRI: Three students of BIT Sindri were taken to task for ragging on Thursday.

Not hesitating to crack the whip, the authorities barred Ashutosh Tarun, Ashish Sharma and Rohit Barnwal, all third-semester students of production engineering, from entering the institute hostel for an indefinite period and prevented them from taking part in all academic activities, including attending classes and library, for 15 days. Besides, a fine of Rs 20,000 each has been imposed on the three. Also, an FIR has been filed against the students at the local polce station.

According to professor G Kumar, the general warden of BIT Sindri, when the newly admitted students were returning to their respective hostels after attending classes in metallurgical and chemical engineering buildings in the afternoon, Tarun, Sharma and Barnwal stopped them near the administrative building and asked them to bow before every senior and pass through the area in a zig-zag manner with their bodies half-bent as a mark of respect to the seniors. Reportedly, the freshers were also told not to lift their heads even once throughout the exercise.

However, as luck would have it, the institute director, the general warden and six hostel superintendents came out of the administrative building at that time and saw the act for themselves. Then, they chased the three, caught them and seized their identity cards.

Besides punishing the three students, institute director S K Singh said a copy of the action taken report has been sent to the Dhanbad deputy commissioner, the superintendent of police and other senior officials for further action.

Urge student to return, write book review: punishment for ragging

August 28th, 2009 - 12:53 am ICT by IANS

Allahabad, Aug 27 (IANS) Two students of Allahabad University caught ragging were Thursday given an innovative punishment by the college authorities - apologise to the junior you ragged, urge him to return to the hostel and continue with his studies and also write a 1,000-word review of a book of your choice.
The college also announced a fine of Rs.20,000 each on the two students of L.L.B. second year.

“Two students of LLB 2nd year, Animesh Sharma and Shridhar Sundaram, were caught, ragging a 1st year student of the same course, A.A. Tripathi. The Vice Chancellor Dr. R.G. Harshe took the action late this evening and also imposed the fine,” Allahabad University proctor Jatashanker Tiwari told IANS over phone.

The vice chancellor awarded an additional punishment to the seniors.

“I have also asked the guilty seniors to choose a book of their choice and write a review in one thousand words by the time they are able to convince their junior to return to the hostel,” Harshe told IANS.

Dehradun: BBA students suspended for alleged ragging

New Delhi: Four students of a deemed university in Dehradun have been suspended for allegedly beating up a junior student under the guise of ragging. Faisal Malik, a first year BBA student, approached the administration to lodge a complaint who reportedly turned a blind eye to the episode.

He then sought help from the police and filed a complaint against the seniors involved. As soon as the university learnt of the police case, they immediately took cognisance of Faisal's complaint and suspended the four students. The Supreme Court in an unusually strong ruling in May 2009 had given strict guidelines to tackle the ragging menace.

Taking note of the recent spate of violent ragging incidents, the apex court had come down heavily on ragging in educational institutes. The Supreme Court has ruled that each state should have an anti-ragging committee, students who indulge in ragging under the influence of alcohol must be sent to de-addiction centres and anyone indulging in ragging must be given psychological treatment.

The apex court has also directed all state governments to give an undertaking about the steps taken by them to eradicate ragging.

Ragging: Ire over inaction

Statesman News Service


BALASORE, 25 AUG: Tension prevails at UN College, Soro, with students boycotting classes protesting the alleged inaction of the administration and college authorities regarding ragging of a Plus Two student by some seniors.

The victim, Mr Subrat Bhola, a student of Plus Two in the science stream was allegedly ragged by some Plus Three students on Friday. Though the matter was brought to the notice of the college authorities, no substantial action was taken against the erring students. Meanwhile, Bhola was allegedly further harassed supposedly for lodging a complaint with the principal. The matter triggered resentment among the students even as Bhola has discontinued the college.

“He is no longer interested in UN College as he is afraid that he may be harmed in future. We have sought his college leaving certificate and are planning his admission in another college in the district. In fact, he has started attending classes in the new college,” informed Subrat’s maternal uncle, Mr Aswani Raul.

Subrat’s father is away in Chhattisgarh as he works there. Subrat’s friends alleged that he was made to kneel down and eat his spit in the college campus Friday last. He was “punished” for failing to attend a meeting convened by the senior students to discuss their future course of action in the wake of ongoing student unrest across the state.

The matter was brought to the notice of the principal, who assured that the matter would be sorted out by the college disciplinary committee. Meanwhile, the accused students “convinced” the principal that Subrat was meted out the “corrective treatment” for misbehaving with girl students. Subrat was again assaulted by a group of students supposedly acting vindictively for his complaint.

A total of three cases have been registered, police said. “We had apprised the state home secretary of the matter. We will meet the superintendent of police seeking a thorough probe and punishment to the erring students,” said Subrat’s uncle Mr Raul.

Ragging cry after victim commits suicide

Statesman News Service
DURGAPUR/BOLPUR, 24 AUG: The death of a polytechnic student sparked off a sensation in Burdwan town today. The student (in photo right), Anirban Dutta (19), committed suicide by hanging from a ceiling fan at his residence in Nutan Pally locality in Burdwan town.

Anirban’s family members and neighbours alleged that Anirban was a victim of repeated ragging by seniors in a Siliguri-based polytechnic institution. The youth was a first-year civil engineering student.

According to Mr Atanu Dutta, Anirban’s father and a civil contractor by profession: “He was tortured several times by senior students last month and had returned home. I had to accompany him to the institute and stay there for a week with him, as he was scared of his seniors. I personally had met the principal and sought his intervention. He had assured me that action would be taken.” But, the college allegedly didn't take any initiative to protect the student.

Mr Probhat Chakraborty, inspector in-charge, Siliguri PS, told The Statesman: “Neither the parents nor the polytechnic authority have lodged any complaint of ragging.” The student returned home two days back and reported that he was being tortured by the seniors. Mr Dutta said: “He was looking depressed and I was very much disappointed by the college’s attitude as they remained indifferent even though the matter was brought to their notice.”

The Burdwan police have taken up the matter. The SP, Burdwan, Mr R Rajashekharan, said: “Burdwan police officials met the family members and we are expecting a complaint by this evening. The matter would accordingly be forwarded to the Siliguri police for proper action.”

Allahabad University student alleges ragging

August 25th, 2009
IANS

Allahabad : A student of Allahabad University has complained that he was forced to take off his trousers, smoke and carry his slippers on his head by his seniors inside the campus, an official said Tuesday. He said he was also beaten during the ragging.

"A student of B.A. first year, has accused some senior inmates of Kali Prasad Hostel of ragging him on the pretext of being introduced to him," university's chief proctor Jata Shankar told IANS.

"The student has registered a written compliant with the university authorities. We have initiated an inquiry into the matter. If senior students are found guilty, stern action would be taken against them," Shankar added.

According to the victim, he was ragged Sunday by a group of senior inmates of the hostel that is located right across the main building of the university.

The student has alleged that his seniors forced him to smoke and perform "objectionable acts" and the ragging continued for nearly an hour.

3 IIT-M students expelled from hostel for ragging

TNN 25 August 2009, 03:01am IST

CHENNAI: Three senior IIT (Madras) students have been expelled from the hostel for a year for allegedly harassing juniors who joined the institution this academic year.

‘‘The students, all residents of the Alaknanda Hostel block, were identified as involved in misbehaviour with junior students. They were expelled last week,’’ a faculty member said on Monday. Officially, authorities have chosen not to describe the incident as ‘‘ragging’’.

They said the students had ‘‘misbehaved’’ with juniors, a subtle distinction made to spare them of a more severe punishment.

All three students were on August 18 directed to vacate the hostel. ‘‘The expelled students have been prohibited from visiting the hostel zone including dining halls during the period of expulsion,’’ the faculty member said.

Ragging glare on college after servitude act

RAIGANJ, 24 AUG: A first year BA student of Raiganj College (University College), Atul Rabidas (in picture), was allegedly a victim of ragging by his senior students in the hostel of the college for the last three days. On the basis of this report, the anti-ragging committee of Raiganj College today held a meeting to punish the students who introduced ragging into the college hostel.

It was learnt that Atul Rabidas was a resident of Tunnidighi village under Karandighi police station of North Dinajpur district. Recently he was admitted to this college and started to stay in this hostel. A section of senior students were reportedly forcing him to serve meals to all the students in the hostel. Without any excuse, he was being forced to serve them for hours at night. In case of any protest, he was beaten up too. Today this report was placed to the principal of Raiganj College Dr Dilip Dey Sarkar by both the superintendent of the boys’ hostel of Raiganj College and the general secretary of the students’ union of Raiganj College Mr Souvik Roy. When asked, Atul Rabidas, the victim, was too fearful to make any comment.

The superintendent of the boys’ hostel in Raiganj College Mr Debasish Biswas said: "We had a report that Atul Rabidas has been being ragged by the senior students over the last three days. We suspect that in fear he is not disclosing the facts to us. On the basis of the report of other inmates of the hostel we came to know that a section of students were torturing this newcomer both physically and mentally. The students who introduced the ragging are yet to be traced. The subject today was also brought to the notice of the principal of the college.

The principal of Raiganj College (University) Dr Dilip Dey Sarkar said: "On the basis of the report today we, the members of the anti-ragging committee, had a meeting. We started an investigation over the report. We will have to ask the victim too. If it has or is happening, drastic steps will to be taken against the perpetrators." SNS

Nursing students allege ragging by seniors, hold protest march

Published: Mon, 24 Aug 2009 at 20:16 IST

Jalandha: Alleging tormenting and ragging by their seniors, first year students of B Sc (Nursing) of Mahatma Hans Raj Institute of Nursing today held a protest outside the Principal's office.

The aggrieved students alleged that the seniors have been ragging them since long by forcing them to wash utensils, washbasins, dusting of the rooms and hurling abuses on them without any reasons while frisking them in a humiliating manner was order of the day.

However, Institute authorities have strongly denied the ragging allegations while holding that students mainly wanted more off days and the trouble was fomented by one particular student and her family as she wanted more off days after already exhausting her quota.

The authorities said that some outsiders also accompanied the family of the girl and instigated the protest and tutored the girls to use word ragging to sensationalize the matter.

Around three dozen students gathered outside the office of the principal and protested for around a couple of hours while also raising slogans.

They alleged that they were being subjected to ragging by their seniors who were forcing them to wash their utensils, clean the areas of the hostels.

Physically challenged student brutally ragged

Thrissur, Aug 24 (PTI) A physically challenged student of a polytechnic was allegedly beaten up by his seniors when he resisted their attempt to strip him during ragging.

Six students have been taken into custody in connection with the alleged ragging of 23-year-old hearing and speech impaired Nandakishore of Sree Rama Polytechnic last week, police said today.

The victim, who was a first year student of the college, was hospitalised after the incident.

In his statement to the police, Nandakishore alleged that his hostel mates tried to forcibly strip him and he was roughed up when he resisted.

Hailing from a poor family, Nandakishore had gained admission into the college under the physically challenged quota. He was ragged by his seniors in the hostel on the very first day of his college on Wednesday last.

Now, AIIMS students in ragging row

TNN 24 August 2009, 12:49am IST

NEW DELHI: After JNU, it's the turn of another premier institute to be in the news for an alleged incident of ragging. According to sources at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, three students were found ragging their juniors on Friday evening. A formal inquiry has been constituted, with the report expected on Tuesday.

The incident allegedly occurred earlier in the week, when two students were found in the hostel room of a senior by the hostel warden. According to highly placed sources in AIIMS, three senior students, including an intern, were with the freshers. The matter was reported to the hostel superintendent, who in turn informed the institute authorities. Said dean of students, Dr Rani Kumar, "On August 20, there was a freshers' party in the institute. Our anti-ragging squad, which conducts surprise raids till August 31, found some freshers in the room of a senior. The seniors claimed they were interacting about study material. However, the matter has been taken up and an inquiry constituted to verify the details of the incident."

Sources say a formal complaint was filed only on Saturday morning by hostel authorities. No student has formally complained. Though no one in the institute was willing to provide details, sources admitted that the incident fell within the parameters of ragging as defined by the Supreme Court.

AIIMS officials said that an inquiry, under the dean, had been constituted by the director of the institute, with the report expected on Tuesday. Added Dr Kumar, "Since all the freshers had left over the weekend for their local guardians' residences, questioning could not be done. Once they are back on Monday, the report will be filed to the director by Tuesday."

Meanwhile, the dean will also be addressing all freshers on Monday to ascertain about other incidents that may have taken place. A separate round of questioning of seniors on the matter will also take place. Sources claim the move comes after the parent of one of the students called up the institute authorities regarding the incident.

The incident, which comes close on the heels of JNU suspending its students for ragging some days ago, is a wake-up call for the institute which was one of the first to constitute an anti-ragging squad, say sources.

Engineering student commits suicide; police rule out ragging

Amritsar , Aug 23 A second-year engineering student of a private college near Attari border here today allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room but police ruled out ragging as motive behind the act as claimed by his parents.

Dheeraj Kumar, a resident of Una district of Himachal Pardesh, joined the Baba Kumar Singh Engineering College here only five days ago. He was earlier studying in an engineering college in Moga district.

The parents of the deceased alleged that their son took the extreme step after he was ragged at the hostel but police and college authorities ruled out such a possibility.

16 students suspended for ragging in Madhya Pradesh

August 23rd, 2009 - 5:14 pm ICT by IANS


Bhopal, Aug 23 (IANS) Sixteen students of Dr. Harisingh Gour University in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar town have been suspended for 15 days after being accused of ragging their juniors, an official said Sunday. The action was taken after a group of B.Pharma students of the university allegedly threatened and harrassed some freshers.

The victimised students reported the matter to the university administration and also lodged a police complaint.

“We have suspended all 16 students, accused of ragging juniors, for a fortnight and will decide upon the future course of action at a board meeting Wednesday,” university proctor R.P. Mishra said.

A police officer told IANS that they have issued “a strict warning to the students that they will not harass any junior”.

NIFT students cast out of campus for ragging

Posted On Saturday, August 22, 2009 at 03:41:45 AM


Two students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar, are facing the music for allegedly ragging freshers in two separate incidents that took place last week. The students — an 18-year-old youth in third semester of Fashion Technology Department and a 21-year-old final year student of Fashion Design Department — have suspended till officials in Delhi decide their fate.

Confirming the incidents, NIFT director Nitesh Kumar Vyas said, “The director general in Delhi will take the final call. Till then, the two students have been asked to stay off the campus.”

Both the incidents took place after college hours. The 18-year-old youth stopped two girls from leaving the campus, which made them miss their bus home. One of the girls was from Delhi. Her local guardian lodged a complaint against the third semester student, accusing him of “unparliamentary behaviour”.

The second complaint was lodged by parents of a female student living in Ahmedabad against a final year student of Fashion Design Department. The parents alleged that the 21-year-old youth had commented on their ward’s dress, saying she should be wearing salwar-kameez in college. The ‘victim’ was wearing jeans-top at the time of the incident. NIFT has a seven-member anti-ragging squad that goes around hostels even during the night.

Students and their parents are also made to sign an undertaking that their ward will not get involved in any such activity. Requesting anonymity, a member of the anti-ragging committee said, “The girls were ragged last week. Both the accused have confessed to the crime, which could influence the degree of punishment doled out to them.”

Recently, National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad had thrown out a student for ragging a fresher. Even the Supreme Court has come down heavily on ragging. In February, the court had directed all educational institutions to take stringent anti-ragging measures, including filing criminal cases against erring students.

Students allege ragging in law college in Ghaziabad

Published: Fri, 21 Aug 2009 at 22:40 IST

Ghaziabad: Two 1st year students of a private law college here alleged Friday that they had been thrashed by their seniors after they did not cooperate during a ragging session. The incident occurred in the Mewar Law College in Ghaziabad Friday afternoon.

"Some of us (1st year students), including three girls, were called by our seniors and asked to give our introductions. Soon however, the questions became personal and we objected. Some other seniors, however, intervened and they let us go," Keshav, one of the victims, told.

"But as we went outside the college, eight boys came in a car and thrashed both Vivek Tiwari and me," Keshav said.

"We went and complained to the college chairman about the incident. The management told us to submit a written complaint and promised action against the seniors.

"The chairman also warned the senior boys. On the chairman's word, the seniors have apologised to us," Keshav said. "We had also called the police control room but the police did not come. We shall complain to the police again," Keshav said.

Circle officer (Indirapuram) Rahul Srivastava denied having received any complaint from anyone in this regard.

A senior management official of the Mewar Law College, said: "The seniors have apologised. The matter has been sorted out. Even Vivek's father has accepted their apology and wants no future action against them."

Ragging: Six more SMS students held

TNN 20 August 2009, 03:11am IST

JAIPUR: Six more students of SMS Medical College have been arrested in connection with the ragging incident in which 40 students were forcibly taken to a location and confined for over two hours.

The senior students- Rahul Chaudhary of Bharatpur, Raghvendra Chaubisa of Udaipur, Bhavesh Joshi of Pali, Praveen Sigadia of Sirohi, Rajesh Kumar of Jaipur rural and Chaina Ram of Nagaur- were arrested after they were identified by the victims during an identification parade. Police are questioning them to get details about the other students, who were also involved in the incident.

On Wednesday, nearly 18 senior students forcibly took 40 students in a city bus from college to a private house in Barkat Nagar locality, where they were asked to make an introduction.' However, when the brother of one of the junior students reported the matter to college administration, the college authorities lodged complaint at Moti Doongri police station.

SP (east) Biju George Joseph told TOI that after the arrest of six more students on Wednesday, the total arrests in the ragging case has reached eight. He also said that the arrested students have been sent to judicial custody of two weeks and police are making efforts to nab other students, who were involved in the act.

Meanwhile, the anti-ragging committee of SMS Medical College held a meeting to prepare the plan of action to prevent repetition of any such ragging incident in future. The committee also directed all departmental heads and senior faculty members to take required measured to check ragging by the senior students.

The college has already suspended 18 students for three months and barred them from entering college library and hostel mess while a case had been registered against them for kidnapping and wrongful confinement.

Ragging in Assam on rise, two students arrested

August 20th, 2009 - 3:06 pm ICT by IANS

Guwahati, Aug 20 (IANS) In yet another glaring case of ragging in Assam, two college students here have been arrested for harassing girls after authorities filed a formal complaint with the police.

Hridyananda Baruah, a student of B.Com final year at the K.C. Das Commerce College in Assam’s main city of Guwahati, and Anjan Bujarbaruah of the Guwahati Commerce College, were arrested late Wednesday following a formal complaint by college authorities.

“There was a complaint by the principal of the K.C. Das Commerce College saying one of their students Hridyananda Baruah was involved in an incident of ragging.

“Based on the complaint, we first arrested Baruah and based on his statement we arrested his friend Anjan Bujarbaruah who was with him during the incident,” said police official F. Barghuyan, who is investigating the case.

Hitesh Deka, principal of the K.C. Das Commerce College, said he was responding to a verbal complaint from girl students that Hridyananda Baruah had “been continuously harassing them”.

“So I lodged a police report. In the meantime, we have expelled him from the college on charges of ragging. We are against any form of ragging in the college and shall not tolerate such incidents,” Deka said.

Guwahati Commerce College authorities are also contemplating action.

Incidents of ragging have increased in recent weeks in educational institutions in Assam with the Dibrugarh University last week cracking the whip on ragging by expelling one postgraduate student and penalising eight more with varying degrees of punishment, including cash penalties.

The Dibrugarh University in a path breaking decision announced the expulsion of Madhav Kachari and debarred him from seeking admission to any other institution.

Another postgraduate student, Manash Pratim Gogoi, was expelled from the university for two straight terms.

The tough action was initiated following written complaints against the nine students to the vice chancellor by junior students alleging ‘mental torture’ bordering on obscenity.

Before that, on Aug 9, a first year student of Dimoria College in Sonapur on the outskirts of Assam’s main city of Guwahati, became the first casualty of ragging after he allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train Sunday.

Chintumoni Bordoloi had joined the college just three days ago.

There were similar reports of ragging from other colleges in Assam with a student in western Nalbari being admitted to hospital after being allegedly beaten up by seniors in the hostel.

Maldivian students ragged in an Indian college

CJ: Hassan Ziyau Wed, Aug 19, 2009 15:57:28 IST


FIVE MALDIVIAN students studying in Garden City College in Bangalore, India, were beaten up badly, leaving four students with injuries. According to the students, in the early hours of August 15, 2009, a group of drunken seniors turned up at one of the houses where they live and beat them up.

“They were drunkards passing by, they spotted a Maldivian in the balcony,” one of the Maldivian students studying in the Garden City College explained the incident. “They yelled at him what he was looking at, he said nothing.”

According to the student, who wishes to remain anonymous, explained that there were more verbal confrontations, which ultimately fuelled itself into a dispute. “Someone called the (rest of the) Maldivians, they came and both groups started fighting.”

Two of the students in the house locked themselves up, while another five were beaten up by the gang with four Maldivians sustaining injuries. According to the students, the Indians were senior students of the same college. The Maldivians were newly arrived juniors who had joined the college a month back.

More than 100 Maldivian students are currently studying at Garden City College and around 20 to 25 students came in for fresh admissions this year. Most of these students live in Hoskote, a town in Bangalore rural district. This was where the students were beaten up.

“There wasn’t any police presence near the area and how can we report such a case,” said another student who wishes not to be named. After several hours, students managed to report the incident to the college security and they arrived hours later.

The college is described as one of the best universities in India by the Maldivian education minister. Garden City College is affiliated to Bangalore University. Speaking at a news conference held on July 11, 2009, Dr Mustafa Luthufee said, “One of the best universities in India, the Garden City College, has given us several scholarship opportunities.”

I have been trying to contact the college officials regarding the matter with no response yet.

5 students suspended for ragging

United News of India Jorhat, Aug 18:

Five students of a premier college in upper Assam's Jorhat district were today suspended for 15 days from the college and hostel, four of whom were also arrested, after they were found involved in a ragging incident.

All the five students, who are boarders of the JB College boys' hostel, have been suspended with immediate effect from the college and hostel for 15 days, college sources said.

A three-member enquiry team has been formed by the college, which will submit its report within 10 days, and depending on the report, punishment would be decided, the sources added.
The students are Hrithik Bora, Budhin Dutta, Gyandeep Mesh, Ashish Phukan and Bhrighu Ranjan Barthakur. Barring Bhrighu, the other four students were arrested. They were later released on bail, though police interrogation was on.

A new boarder had complained before the college authorities and police that the five students had physically assaulted him and also tonsured his head.

The incident comes just five days after 10 students of Dibrugarh University in the state were handed down punishment for ragging.

New ragging cases surface in JNU

Manash Pratim Gohain, TNN 19 August 2009, 12:19am IST

NEW DELHI: What was being seen as a one-off complaint about ragging on August 12 seems to have opened a can of worms at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Following a three-day investigation and questioning of over 40 students, 15 more showcause notices were issued on Tuesday. Interestingly, the investigation team has come across new cases of ragging in the current academic session which had gone unreported so far.

Meanwhile, even as the proctoral team completed its investigation and has the report ready, it will not be submitting it as scheduled since the vice-chancellor is not available. "We are going to submit the report only on Thursday as the VC is not available now,'' said H B Bohidar, chief proctor, JNU.

On August 12, a first-semester MCA student, Balbir Chand, had made a complaint about being ragged to the dean of students' welfare. Following this, the anti-ragging committee caught red-handed four senior students of MCA indulging in the act of ragging at Sabarmati hostel. The four were placed under expulsion from hostel the next day and an inquiry was instituted.

However, the incident came as an eye-opener for JNU administration, as the inquiry committee came across fresh unreported incidents of ragging. The committee has issued 19 showcause notices, including the four issued earlier to the expelled students. The students who have been served the showcause notice have been asked to furnish an explanation by Wed evening.

Speaking to Times City, Bohidar said: "In the past three days we have questioned over 40 students, both seniors and juniors. We had a meeting till late evening on Tuesday and decided to issue showcause notices to 15 more students all from MCA third-semester as to why action should not be taken against them for indulging in ragging. This is a new twist to the investigations as we came across past incidents of ragging from the current academic session which have not been reported.''

Meanwhile, the JNU administration said it would take the strictest action if anyone was found guilty of ragging. This is the first time incidents of ragging are coming to light in JNU in 40 years. Rector II of JNU, Ram Adhikari Kumar, said: "The investigation team has really worked on an urgency note and is now fine tuning the report. Once the culprits are identified after the report is submitted and the inquiry comes to a conclusion, the university would not hesitate to take action against the accused.''

BIT cracks ragging whip, suspends six Mesra techies

Ranchi, Aug. 17: Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, has suspended and fined six second-year students for ragging freshers during the first week of August, the first such action initiated by the deemed university two years after the Supreme Court advocated stringent punishment to curb such malpractice.

BIT identified the guilty students as Abhimanyu Setia, Ashutosh Pratik, Lakhan Rastogi, Himanshu Aggarwal, Shashank Singh and Kumar Abhisek, but refused to divulge the number and identity of the freshers who were their targets.

Setia and Pratik were given the maximum punishment — suspension for a year, which means they lose two semesters, and a fine of Rs 50,000 each. Rastogi and Aggarwal were fined Rs 20,000 each, with both losing a semester each. Singh and Abhisek were fined Rs 10,000 each.

Anand Kumar Sinha, the dean of students’ welfare who also heads BIT’s anti-ragging committee constituted as per UGC guidelines, told The Telegraph the complaints levelled by a group of juniors against the six seniors were “proved” after a thorough investigation by the 10-member panel.

The committee, that also includes a chief medical officer, recommended its findings to senior authorities and the registrar accordingly issued a notification specifying the quantum of punishment given to the erring students on August 12.

Without elaborating, Sinha said the victims had complained that the seniors used to call them to their hostels “with ulterior motives” in the evenings during the first week of August.

Even the BIT vice-chancellor, P.K. Barhai, refused to divulge the identity of the victims, citing a UGC directive. “Freshers being called by seniors to their hostel came under the purview of ragging and was thus tantamount to punishment,” he said. BIT’s anti-ragging committee was reconstituted this year as per UGC guidelines.

In 2007, the Supreme Court came out with a directive advocating stringent action against senior students involved in ragging. Terming ragging as “human rights abuse in essence”, the apex court once again directed educational institutions to take stringent measures against ragging, even filing criminal cases against erring students.
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18 suspended for ragging in Jaipur, 2 held

PTI 18 August 2009, 10:01pm IST

JAIPUR: The Sawai Maan Singh Medical College and Hospital here suspended 18 second year MBBS students for ragging their juniors, Principal Ashok Pangariya said.

Nearly 25 first year students were forcibly boarded on a bus and taken to Barkat Nagar by their seniors, Pangariya said and added that as soon as the matter came to the notice of the college administration, police and district administration were informed.

"A police team then raided the PG Hostels at Barkat Nagar and rescued the first year students, before they were ragged. 18 second year students were immediately suspended for three months on charges of ragging," said Ashok Pangariya.

Chief Warden of college hostel Dr H Pagariya said, "FIR has been lodged against two second year students, who have also been detained for questioning by the police."

Station House Officer, Moti Dhumri Narayan Tiwari, while confirming the arrest said, "Two second year students have been arrested and FIR lodged against them under section 341 of IPC. The students arrested are Deependra Yadav and Kamlesh Beniwal."

Three IT-BHU pharma students face music for ragging

TNN 16 August 2009, 11:03pm IST

VARANASI: Now the axe of anti-ragging squad of the Banaras Hindu University has fallen over three BPharma/MPharma courses of the Institute of Technology as they have been debarred from classes for 15 days and also expelled from the hostel for the next three months. However, no varsity officials could disclose what the accused students had done in the name of ragging.

According to the press release, publication and publicity (PPP) cell of BHU, an incident of ragging was reported to have taken place at Limbdi Hostel of IT-BHU on August 9. After investigating the matter, the anti-ragging squad of the university and the anti-ragging sub-committee of the IT submitted their reports to the vice-chancellor. During their investigation, the squad and sub-committee authorities found Vineet Agrawal (BPharma Part-II), Rahul Kumar Jain (BPharma Part-II) and Rohit Gupta (IDD BPharma-MPharma Part-II) as guilty of ragging.

The official release stated that after considering the report, debarring the erring students from classes for 15 days and expelling them from the hostel for the next three months had been announced. However, when the anti-ragging squad chief Prof GS Yadav was contacted to know what those students had done in the name of ragging, he put the ball into the court of the PPP cell. The chairman of PPP cell expressed his inability to disclose the reason. Chief proctor Prof HCS Rathore, when contacted on phone, told to find out the reason from director IT-BHU Prof SN Upadhyaya, who could not be contacted despite repeated efforts.

Before this fresh episode, BHU administration had also initiated strict steps against 10 students of IT-BHU who were caught indulging in ragging of their juniors on Asi Ghat on July 29. The proctorial board and anti-ragging squad of varsity handed over the accused students to the Lanka police after lodging FIRs against them while they were also expelled them from hostels for a period of six months (one semester) and penalty of Rs 50,000 was also imposed on each of them. The police had released those students on July 30 on personal bonds.

Students, principal arrested for ragging

Eluru (AP), Aug 14 (PTI) Four students and principal of a college here were arrested in West Godavari district in connection with a ragging incident in the institute, police said today.

The four students allegedly harassed a junior student in the college at Nallajarla in the district, they said. Following a complaint by the victim, the four students have been arrested, they said.

The principal was also arrested as he let off the accused with a warning and did not inform the police, they said.

Relevant section under the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Ragging Act have been slapped on the arrested persons, police added.

Ragging casts its shadow over AU

Rajiv Mani, TNN 13 August 2009, 10:32pm IST

ALLAHABAD: Even as the dust from these ragging incidents is yet to settle down, fresh cases of ragging in the garb of introduction of freshers have been reported from the hostels of Allahabad University. But, the varsity officials are finding it tough to take any action since in the absence of any written complaint about such incidents.

According to hostel sources, recently senior inmates of Shatabdi Boys' hostel, told the freshers to switch off their mobiles and assemble in a room around midnight. The freshers were told to get a `zero cut' hair style and not to wear any T-shirt or jeans. Instead, they were to attend classes only in formal dresses and leather shoes. Several other instructions on respecting the seniors and day to day behaviour, both on the campus and in the hostel, too were given.

However, four new students were petrified by the incident and left for their homes. They are now not ready to return to the hostel, said sources.

In a similar incident, around dozen freshers of Kalpana Chawla girls' hostel were asked to line up in the hostel lawn. These girls, most of whom were from different professional courses, were then asked to give their introduction based on a set format of eight questions.

But, in both the cases no fresher has filed a complaint with the varsity officials. "Though we are taking all the necessary precautions, it is also the responsibility of juniors to apprise us if any ragging takes place, especially in hostels,'' said chief proctor Prof Jata Shankar. If the victims fail to inform the authorities, then they are also liable for punishment, he added.

"We are aware that such cases do occur in hostels, especially at times when freshers are new to the campus. But, juniors have to understand that they too have to come forward and help the authorities get into the details after which strict action will certainly be taken against the guilty,'' said Prof R K Singh, dean student welfare.

Meanwhile, the superintendent of Shatabdi Boys' hostel, Dr J A Ansari, talking to TOI said that he is investigating the matter and added that if any hostler would be found guilty, he/she would be rusticated from the hostel. Besides, the varsity would also impose a heavy fine on them. "I also appeal to newcomers to inform me personally about any ragging incident and help me find the culprits who are brining bad name to AU,'' he said. However, he added that, these are tender minds and need to be treated with care.

JNU students ragged, accused removed from hostel

IANS 13 August 2009, 08:38pm IST

In a "shocking and first of its kind incident" in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), at least eight students of the varsity here were ragged by their seniors in a hostel room, authorities said on Thursday.

"We are shocked. It has never happened on our campus," JNU proctor Neera Kongari said. "The victims were fresh MCA (Masters in Computer Application) students and those who ragged them are semester third and fourth students. It is a first of its kind and sad incident in our university, and we are going to take the strongest action," she said.

The incident took place in Tapti hostel Wednesday night. Kongari said there were five to six students who were ragging their juniors.

"The anti-ragging committee got a tip-off about the incident and conducted the raid. They caught them red handed. We have already withdrawn the accused students from the hostel," Kongari said.

"Further inquiry is on. We will take stringent action so that such an act is never repeated on our campus," she said.

When asked about the time line of real action and if they will be rusticated from the university, Kongari said: "The real action may take place next week as there are a few holidays this week. But authorities are consulting each other about the decision and soon you will see the result."

"We have a code, under that the strongest punishment will be given," she reiterated. According to police at the Vasant Vihar police station (JNU falls under its jurisdiction), no official communication or complaint from the varsity authorities has been received yet.

Robin, a student from the same hostel, said: "We are shocked at the development. But many of us believe that it was more of an introductory thing than ragging."

On Aug 3, the Kirori Mal College (KMC) in Delhi University's north xcampus expelled two students and rusticated another for allegedly ragging a junior in the hostel. Delhi Police have registered a case against two students.

The KMC authorities received a complaint from a first-year B.Sc. student, Ashutosh, that he was ragged and sexually harassed by two third-year students - Akshay Chaudhary and Hani Mohammad - in the college hostel the day before.

The Supreme Court has asked educational institutions to observe zero tolerance towards ragging. During the past year, India witnessed 88 cases of ragging, of which 12 proved fatal.

Four arrested for ragging, assaulting 1st year student

Coimbatore, Aug 13 (PTI) Four students of a private college here were arrested today on charges of ragging and assaulting a first year computer science student.

Basad, hailing from Vatakara of Kerala, lodged a complaint with the principal on August 9 that four students -- two from Udhagamandalam (Ooty) and two from Kerala -- had warned him not to come to the college with a moustache.

Though the principal summoned the students, all doing their second year computer science and warned them that day, they took Basad to a hotel and threatened him with dire consequences. They also forced him to part with Rs 1,100 and allegedly assaulted him.

Basad was later admitted to a hospital in Palakkad, treated and discharged, police said.

A complaint was lodged in Peelamedu police station in the city yesterday, based on which all the four were arrested, police said.

3 Visva-Bharati students may face suspension for ragging

Express News Service
Posted: Aug 13, 2009 at 0327 hrs IST

Kolkata The anti-ragging committee of Visva-Bharati University at Santiniketan has suggested the Vice-Chancellor to suspend two students of Kala Bhavan for their alleged involvement in ragging.

Srirup Sarkar and Somnath Das have been charged with ragging three first year students — Jyotirmoy Saha, Abhishek Mukherjee and Sheikh Gul Mohammed.

According to the sources, the incident took place on July 30. “According to the Supreme Court rules and the recommendations of the University Grants Commission, any student who is charged with ragging is suspended and then an inquiry committee is formed to give its report on the incident,” said a member of the anti-ragging committee of the university.

The vice-chancellor is yet to give the consent on suspending the students as the university was closed on Wednesday. Both the accused have said that they are not guilty as it was not an act of ragging on their part.

Assam student commits suicide after ragging

IANS 9 August 2009, 08:43pm IST

GUWAHATI: A college student in Assam allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a speeding train after being ragged in hostel, his family said.

The body of Chintumoni Bordoloi, a first year student of BA at Dimoria College in Sonapur on the outskirts of Assam's main city of Guwahati, was found on a railway track early on Sunday.

"Chintumoni called me up last night (Saturday) saying he was very badly ragged by seniors in the hostel. He was crying while talking on the phone and saying he could not sleep till the early hours," Gobind Bordoloi, Chintumoni's elder brother, said. Chintumoni joined the college just three days ago.

"We have a feeling he ended his life unable to bear the trauma of ragging," Ranjit Bordoloi, another brother of the victim, said. Police have since registered a case of unnatural death and launched investigations.

"We suspect he was mowed down by a speeding train although we cannot deny or confirm if it was an accident or a case of suicide," a police official said. "We are sure our brother was not suffering from any kind of depression other than ragging," Gobind said.

There were no immediate comments from the college authorities. Friends of Chintumoni said he left the hostel early Sunday, saying he would visit a nearby town to buy some books.

Earlier on Friday, nine students of the prestigious Dibrugarh University were suspended for allegedly ragging juniors.

City fashion school suspends students

Darinia Khongwir & Shruthi Balakrishna, TNN 9 August 2009, 05:54am IST

BANGALORE: Is talking ragging? So it seems for a leading fashion institute here which suspended a few students for allegedly ragging their juniors during an “interaction”.

According to an official in the institute, faculty members saw seniors talking to their juniors and marched them immediately to the director’s office. The official added: “As the institute has zero tolerance to ragging, they suspended a few of them immediately. This was to send out a strong message to others that the institute is very serious about anti-ragging.”

The number of students suspended and duration is not very clear. According to the official, more than four students were suspended for five days and they will return to college on Monday. But, a student under suspension said that 18 students — 10 girls and eight boys — were suspended.
More Stories from this section

School students engage in ragging; suspended

Kapurthala, Punjab (PTI): In an incident of ragging, a ninth class student of local Sainik school was allegedly severely beaten up by his seniors with sticks and belts resulting in fracture on his left arm and injury on his back after which four students were suspended.

The incident, which took place on Friday night, came to the notice of victim's father Sukhpal Singh, a resident of Tarn Tarn in Punjab when he visited the army-run school on Saturday in connection with the parents day meet.

All the parents complained to the school principal Col. Satbir Singh about alleged indiscipline in the school. Principal Satbir Singh suspended four boys of twelfth class who were allegedly responsible for the attack and asked them to bring their parents within seven days, otherwise they would be rusticated.

He assured the parents to deal strictly with the senior boys who ragged the victim. The victim, who had joined the school in 6th class, was given first aid at a private hospital this morning when the school authorities came to know about the incident.

He told visiting mediapersons in the school premises on Saturday that he had complained to the house master Yadvinder Singh that some senior boys were harassing him last evening, after which on the same night students of 12th class of the school attacked him with sticks and belts.

The boy remained unattended throughout the night, his father claimed. Satbir Singh told reporters that the school authorities came to know about the incident at 10.30am on Saturday and the boy was taken to a private hospital for treatment.

He said there was no teacher or House master in the hostel at the time of the incident.

The principal admitted some senior boys used to ask the juniors to bring their clothes from the laundry or bring books from their senior colleagues but denied any ragging incident.

He said he had formed a three-member committee to inquire into the incident and suggest remedical measures to avoid such incidents in future.

Meanwhile, parents of the victim took him to Tarn Tarn, their native place, for treatment.

Ragging axe on 5 more students

Dibrugarh, Aug. 7: The Dibrugarh University administration has suspended five boarders on charges of ragging, inviting protests from the students’ union.

Today, Madhab Kachari and Manas Pratim Gogoi of A block of Padma Nath Gohain Baruah Chatra Nivas, the university’s “biggest boys’ hostel”, along with Manas Rajkonwar, Jitul Bora and Moon Deka of the hostel’s C block, were asked to temporarily vacate their rooms.

Yesterday, four political science students of the university were suspended on charges of ragging .

Today, vice-chancellor K.K. Deka said the five third-semester boarders of different departments had been asked to vacate their rooms with immediate effect.

An order to this effect (No. DU/SWS/HA/252/09/329) was signed by deputy registrar (administration) Rupam Saikia and issued this afternoon.

The committee probing allegations of ragging against the four students, will also inquire into today’s incident. Till the committee submitted its report, the five boarders had been debarred from entering the hostel, Deka said, adding that strict action would be taken against them if found guilty.

“This is very disturbing; the students of the university are considered to be among the best. It is really unfortunate that cases of ragging have taken place on our campus.”

“We have also asked the guardians to sensitise their wards on ragging. It seems that some students had taken our warnings very lightly. Therefore, they will now face the music for their deeds,” Deka said.

“We are also looking into the technicalities of the case; we cannot make any comment now. We will, however, soon go to the media with our version,” the prefect of the hostel’s A block, Gunabhiram Dutta, said after a meeting with students.

Sources in the hostel, however, alleged that some new entrants had been physically abused by some of their seniors who were allegedly in an inebriated state.

The general secretary of the Dibrugarh University Post- Graduate Students’ Union, M. Deori, however, said the ragging issue had been blown out of proportion.

“There is no harm in asking names and a few other questions of general knowledge to juniors to get introduced to them,” Deori said.

“The seniors should not, however, overstep the limit. If any incidents of ragging has taken place, that is really unfortunate.”

Yesterday, three first-semester girl students from the university’s political science department submitted a written complaint to Deka alleging that four third-semester students had “mentally tortured” them by asking them obscene questions.

Four suspended for ragging

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Dibrugarh, Aug. 6: Four political science students of Dibrugarh University, including two girls, were today suspended for allegedly ragging three juniors.

The step was taken after three first-semester girl students from the university’s political science department submitted a written complaint to the vice-chancellor yesterday alleging that four third semester students had “mentally tortured” them by asking obscene questions in the name of ragging.

Besides suspending the four students, vice-chancellor K.K. Deka ordered an inquiry into the incident to be conducted by a four-member committee of the institution.

The university’s registrar, P.K. Bhuyan, said the four students were debarred from attending classes from today. The order will remain in force until disciplinary proceedings against them are completed.

The students placed under suspension are Mintu Jyoti Kalita, Monoranjan Kalita, Loni Dowerah and Meenakshi Bora.

Deka said, “We have time and again issued warnings to our students not to indulge in ragging as the Centre and the University Grants Commission have taken a very tough stand on sweeping the menace out from campuses. If the students are found to be guilty, tough action will be taken against them.”

The disciplinary committee met late in the afternoon today to discuss the issue. It is being headed by Bhimkanta Baruah, a professor of the department of Assamese. Its other members are Rupam Saikia, deputy registrar (administration), Mrigen Das, a professor of the department of political science, and Jyoti Rekha Hondique, a reader in the department of chemistry.

Saikia said the meeting remained inconclusive as the panel discussed the legalities involved in the matter. “We are also studying the UGC guidelines laid down for tackling such incidents. We will resume discussion on Monday,” he added. Neither the accusers not the accused could be contacted as nobody in the campus could say anything about their whereabouts.

Of the accused, Mintu and Monoranjan are boarders of the Padma Nath Gohain Baruah Chatra Nivas.

Gunabhiram Dutta, a prefect of the lodge’s “A” block, said the incident was “unfortunate” but refused to make any other comment.

AASU general secretary Rituparna Barua said the guilty must be dealt with firmly. “If they are found guilty, the university must take action against them according to the rules so that no one can harbour such ideas in the future.”

Dibrugarh University, set up in 1965, covers seven districts of Upper Assam — Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council has accredited it with an institutional score of 71 per cent (B grade). It is also a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities.

19 varsity students held for ragging

KANCHEEPURAM: The Kanchi Taluk Police on Wednesday arrested 19 students of the Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Viswa Mahavidyalaya at Enathur near here on charges of ragging. They have been remanded to judicial custody.

According to Inspector of Police A. Panchatcharam, a second-year B.E. student, Harsh Gupta, had lodged a complaint stating that his seniors in the university — Abhikanth, Ritheshkumar, Deepak Kumar, Amithraj and Kumar Mohith Pratap — came to his room on a rented premises near the Old Railway Station on Monday night in an inebriated condition and ragged him.

When he brought the incident to the notice of university authorities on Tuesday, he was asked to submit a complaint.

Mr. Panchatcharam said on coming to know that Harsh had approached the authorities, Abhikanth and 18 others went in search of him on Tuesday night to his the room, but did not find him.

Later, on coming to know that he was staying with his friend, Rithesh Anand, a third-year B.E. student, in a rented house near the university, the group went there and picked a quarrel with Harsh, Ritesh and his friends.

The group, armed with hockey sticks and cricket bats, inflicted injuries on Ritesh, Harsh and seven others. Ritesh, who sustained grievous injuries, was rushed to hospital at Porur. Others were treated at private hospitals in Kancheepuram.

Ragged medico too shaken to go back to college

Raghu Paithari, TNN 6 August 2009, 04:45am IST

NIZAMABAD: Anumalla Achutakrishna is not in the right frame of mind to go back to his college to pursue his MBBS first year course. A victim of mindless ragging by seniors at the Kakatiya Medical College (KMC) in Warangal, the student of Nizamabad town is petrified by the episode so much so that his family has decided not to send him back to KMC.

Ironically, Achutakrishna, 17, underwent the torture on Day One (August 3) of his joining the college. Recounting his nine-hour ordeal in the KMC hostel on Monday, Achutakrishna said: "I was not allowed to sit from 5 pm to 1.30 am as the seniors (one after the other) kept ragging me. It was my first day in the college."

Holding back his tears, the student said: "When I asked for some water, they forced me to consume beer and smoke a cigarette." He continued: "I was asked to take off my shirt and dance as they clapped and whistled. It was disgusting." Much worse followed later, both physical and mental assaults, he said.

Achutakrishna, a resident of Yellammagutta in Nizamabad town, had got medicine seat in reputed national institutions but opted for KMC as some of his friends had also joined the course here. Shocked and numbed by the incident, he rushed to his home on August 4. He had done his Intermediate from Sri Chaitanya College in Hyderabad.

Seething with rage over the action of senior students, his father A Satyanarayana, an orthopaedic surgeon in Nizamabad, said it was shocking that freshers have no security in colleges where they enter with a lot of hope.

"My son has gone into deep depression. Who will be held responsible if he resorts to some extreme step? Will the college come to our rescue?" he sought to know. Satyanarayana alleged that the college management is trying to shield the guilty students. He wanted the government to accommodate his son in another college. "Otherwise, I will move the court and wage a legal battle," he asserted.

Crying inconsolably, the boy's mother Sivarani said: "We will not send our boy to the college where there is no security to the lives of juniors. We will rather forego the MBBS seat."

Meanwhile, police in Warangal filed cases against eight seniors and arrested four of them. The arrested students included Raj Kumar, Rajesh, Vikram and Srinivas. Cases were filed after the juniors filed a complaint at Mattewada police station. "We have launched a manhunt to nab the other accused students," CI K Surender said.

NIFT student alleges ragging, Institute pulls up seniors

TNN 6 August 2009, 04:59am IST

AHMEDABAD: A fresher at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Gandhinagar has alleged that she was ragged at the institute recently. The student has complained against four of her seniors. The matter was brought to the notice of the authorities of the institute and was resolved without initiating further action.

The first year student on Monday complained to the director that she was being harassed. "The first year student complained that she was made to come to the college wearing a short dress, put on slippers and keep her hair oiled. As soon as we received the complain, she was made to identify the seniors. We then called the first year student along with those whom she had complained against and the matter was sorted out. There were no further action initiated," said Mitesh Vyas, director of the institute.

"There was a group of boys who wanted to get friendly with her. They kept trying for a few days, but she gave them a cold shoulder. The issue become bigger when she called a few of her local friends, and the two groups got into a tiff," said a student.

"We have kept ourselves prepared. Third year students have been made mentors of first year students. There is an anti-ragging committee on campus that keeps taking rounds in the hostels even during the night. Students and their parents are made to sign an undertaking that their ward will not get involved in any such activity," adds Vyas.

Recently, National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad had thrown out a student after a fresher accused him of ragging. Even the Supreme Court has come down heavily on ragging calling it a "human rights abuse in essence". In February the court had directed all educational institutions to take stringent anti-ragging measures, including filing criminal cases against erring students.

Is it Ragging or Stockholm Syndrome in our Campuses?

-Harsh Agarwal

Ragging is debated and discussed for ages now but we always stopped short of understanding the hidden psychological mysteries behind it. It has been more than a decade and a half since we started to recognize this problem and hunt for a solution but we are still far way from our goal. At the outset the problem looks very simple but as one enters into it and tries to understand, it becomes more complicated than unfolding the Bermuda triangle mystery.

In our attempt to look for an early solution we perhaps focused too much on the law and order aspect of ragging and ignored to probe on the psychological front. We didn’t bother to unravel the mystery that how a victim who is tormented badly makes his abuser his best pal in a short span of time and starts to follow the same strategy on his junior. May be exploring answer to these questions and awareness of these answers could have led to a better understanding of this problem and have sorted it by now.


In August 1973, two bank robbers in Stockholm held 3 women and one man hostage for a period of 6 days. In those six days the hostages developed emotional bonds with their captors and exhibited shocking attitude. They not only resisted the attempt made by the police to rescue them but one of the woman hostages later got engaged to one of the kidnappers and another arranged fund for the legal defense of the kidnappers. This incident baffled many across the world. Psychologists later tried to study the behavior shown by the Stockholm hostages and termed this phenomenon as 'Stockholm Syndrome'. They say that this is a common behavior seen in hostage situation. Psychologists believe that hazing, child abuse, pimp-prostitute relationship, battered spouses’ relationship, etc work on the same psychology and call them 'Societal Stockholm Syndrome'.

In evolutionary psychology, psychologists explain that capture-bonding, or social reorientation after capture, was an essential survival feature for millions of years. The captives who reoriented survived, and those who did not form social bonds with captors were killed. Psychologists believe that anyone can get Stockholm Syndrome if the following conditions are met: (i) Perceived threat to survival (ii) The captive's perception of small kindnesses from the captor (iii) Isolation from perspectives other than those of the captor (iv) Perceived inability to escape. Psychologists believe that it takes about three or four days for this psychology to take hold of the victim mentally. A more in depth information about the psychology that works in such situations and the effect it has on one's personality can be found in the book 'Psychology of torture' by Dr. Sam Vaknin


Now, when I look back to my ragging days in Medical College, I can easily understand why my seniors, each time during ragging, used to first beat me recklessly for hours without any provocation then show act of kindness towards me and offer me tea, samosa, etc. and promise me of helping me later with notes. Perhaps they were applying this same psychological technique of torture by playing the good guy and bad guy at the same time, trying to break me psychologically- an art they learnt from their seniors. Same pattern in ragging can be seen across the country. Most of the victims just give in to this strong psychological tactics. Fortunately this phenomenon did not work on me; however, I feel that if little less torture had been applied, I would have easily become a victim of it.


Recently I saw a similar situation in an award winning Polish film ‘Your name is Justyna’. This film almost brought tears to my eyes and on several occasions even forced me to change the channel. The film shows a pimp who uses similar strategy to convince Justyna, the lead character in that film, into prostitution. His strategy was to psychologically break her down by simultaneously using torture and kindness. The director of this Film, Franco De Penn, while doing research on this subject found that using this psychological phenomenon, more than one hundred and fifty thousand girls in Europe were taken into prostitution. He says that this experience is so shocking that it takes away individual's whole personality. Psychologists who have worked on this phenomenon believe that this is not only harmful to the individual who goes through it but also to others around him/her.

This psychology is so long lasting that we can find people around us who went through ragging decades ago but are still under the influence of this psychology. Though because of the Supreme Court guidelines and tragic cases of ragging reported in recent times they will hesitate to openly show their support. However on talking to them, they would first segregate ragging into mild and severe and then gradually start justifying its need for the initiation of a long lasting camaraderie among students and its need to prepare the students for the 'real world'. Psychologists agree that this phenomenon helps in establishing emotional bond but they call it 'traumatic bonding' and a manipulative behavior which has harmful effect on victim’s personality. We need to ask ourselves that for the sake of bonding, is it justified to go this far and try destructive methods at the cost of one's liberty, dignity and personality. I am sure none of us would agree.


People are so blind folded by the virtues of ragging that they are not aware of the destructive psychology behind it. Furthering our understanding and awareness of this psychology could help in weakening the mass support that ragging enjoys and can gradually put a psychological taboo on it. I believe that asking the students and faculty to do some Google search on such psychological phenomenon might prove more useful than various methods of awareness that we are currently following. After knowing that ragging is a psychological disorder, many would just hate to be identified with it, many would be forced to rethink about the virtues of ragging they believe in, many would be forced to rethink the justifications they give to support ragging and this might eventually lead to peaceful and natural death of ragging by the simple method of thinking and application of logic.

One Stabbed in Ragging in Haryana College

August 4, 2009 Visionmp.com news service

In a case of ragging in Haryana, a student of Guru Nanak Khalsa College in Yamunanagar was reportedly stabbed failing to comply with commands of his seniors. Sher Singh and Gaurav, first year students, allege that they were ragged by seniors at the college canteen. And in the confrontation was caught one of their friends Daler, who had come to college to enquire about admissions.

When the three were sitting in the canteen, a group of seniors came and instructed to strip before girl students. On refusal to do so, they were attacked with bricks and knives. The freshers received minor injuries in the skirmish but Daler was stabbed. He was then hospitalized.

“We were in the canteen when some seniors asked us to strip and walk in front of everyone. We refused so they started beating us,” said Sher Singh, Daler’s friend. “We refused saying why should we do this so they started hitting us, threatened to shoot us,” recalls Gaurav Malik, another friend of Daler’s.

Shocked, relatives of the victims are outraged and want action against the guilty. “We want justice. We have sent our children to study and not to face this,” said Jagdev Singh, uncle of the student.
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However, college authorities deny that any such incident happened on campus. “The incident never happened in the college, it may have happened outside. There is no question of any raging taking place inside college,” said Virendra Kaur, College Principal.

A police case has been registered but no arrest has so far been made. “We are looking into it, at the moment we have registered a case of assault and stabbing but if we find it to be ragging we will add other sections as well,” said Ajit Singh, SHO, Yamananagar.

‘Ragging’ in Navodaya School: principal denies charges

Correspondent

CUTTACK: The ragging slur rocking the prestigious Jawaharlal Navodaya Vidyalaya here took a turn on Tuesday when the principal of the school vehemently denied the allegations saying there is not an iota of truth in the reports published about ragging and bullying in the school.

It was earlier reported that a class VI girl student of the school was allegedly “striped” by fellow students and was asked to dance and sing in the hostel even as she was sick--running with high fever. Unable to bear the ordeal, the girl’s father reportedly decided to put his daughter back in the local private school. But Mundali-based Navodaya School Principal Mr. S.B. Rao in his report to the district Collector, who is also the chairman of the school, has clarified that the allegations of ragging are baseless. The girl’s father Mr Sukanta Kumar Nanda had sought TC of his daughter on July 20 on medical ground and the same was issued to him on July 22, the principal said.

“At the time of receiving the TC, Mr Nanda had never mentioned about any ragging or bullying to his daughter during her brief stay in the school. He had also not reported any such complaints to any school authority till date”, the principal has said in his report adding that Mr. Nanda had once barged into the school hostel in an inebriated condition in the evening to meet his daughter. He had also entered into an altercation with the house mistress and the staff nurse, the principal alleged.

The report also indicated that the girl was admitted in the school on July 13 and went on medical leave from July 14 to 18 as she was suffering from fever. Again she attended the classes on July 19 and July 20 and left the school later on the same day.

One held for ragging in Patna College

Gyan Prakash, TNN 4 August 2009, 06:32am IST

PATNA: In a case of ragging otherwise not very commonplace in Bihar, a BA Part I (History) student of Patna College was on Monday brutally assaulted after senior students failed to strip him.

The incident took place during a freshers’ day function on the campus which was attended, among others, by the college principal. Even while the function was on in the college’s seminar hall, Ashutosh Ranjan came out to go to the loo. he was intercepted by a group of six-seven students, including BA Part II (Maithili) student Vikas Kumar, intercepted him near the toilet and asked him to run to and from in the corridor.

Ashutosh, a resident of Bazar Samiti area, further told police while he thought how to react, one of the seniors tried to unzip his trousers while another forced his hand into the trousers’ pocket. When he resisted, he was hit on his back by a rod and showered with fisticuffs.

The badly bruised boy rushed to the nearby Pirbahore police station. In the raids that followed, Vikas was arrested from the Minto Hostel. Ashutosh was sent to PMCH for treatment.

The college authorities, however, refused to accept it as a case of ragging. “It could be a result of personal enmity,” a college official said, adding the incident would be probed.

Kirori Mal College expels two students for ragging

IANS 3 August 2009, 06:09pm IST


NEW DELHI: Delhi University's Kirori Mal College Monday expelled two students and rusticated another for allegedly ragging a junior in the hostel and decided to file a police complaint.

The accused, however, have denied the charges and said their side of the story was not heard.

The college authorities received a complaint from a first year BSc (Physical Science) student Ashutosh that he was being ragged and sexually harassed by two third-year students - Akshay Chaudhary and Hani Mohammad - in the college hostel Sunday evening.

"We have decided to expel both the students and will register a police complaint for physically, sexually and mentally harassing a junior student. We have also rusticated another third-year student for sending Ashutosh to his seniors," Principal Bhim Sen Singh told reporters here.

The decision to expel the students was taken at a meeting of the college disciplinary and anti-ragging committee. The victim and the students accused of ragging were asked to appear before the committee but none of them turned up.

"It is a very serious case and I took the decision to expel the students with a heavy heart as I know their whole career will be spoiled," Singh said.

"But I think it was needed as tough action against them will set an example to other students not to dare rag juniors. The decision will give confidence to juniors to come out openly against ragging," the principal added.

According to Singh, the victim did not turn up before the committee but spoke with him over phone. "He is disturbed and shocked after the incident. I tried to counsel him to boost his morale. He has shifted out of the hostel and is staying with his local guardian," said Singh.

The expelled students have denied the charges, saying it was only a formal introduction and the victim took it seriously. "Ashutosh came to our room saying somebody has asked him to meet us. I just asked his personal details like name, school and his native place," said Hani Mohammed.

"There was another junior sitting in my room and he asked about ragging when we joined college. I told him it was serious during those days. I said the most common ragging was smile wipe where we were told to smile and then wipe it off by moving our fingers over lips. I asked Ashutosh to do the same but he refused and I said ok. Nothing else happened," said Hani.

Akshay Chaudhary said he did not even talk to Ashutosh and was just present there as he shares the room with Hani.

"After Ashutosh left, Hani received a threatening call from his elder brother. In the evening, the hostel warden called us and without hearing us reported the matter to the college management," Akshay said.

The two said they were not told about the disciplinary committee meeting. "We want to meet the principal and explain everything. Nobody told us we have to be present in the meeting. The decision has been taken without taking our view," said Akshay.

Many students criticised the college's decision and raised slogans within the campus. "There is no clear-cut definition of ragging. Asking juniors their name and other details is just a way to make them open up," said Rakhi Gupta, a second-year student.

"Expelling two students will not act as a deterrent and ragging will continue. Authorities need to think of what can be done by taking students along to curb the menace," said another student.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Sagar Preet Hooda said the police are yet to receive a formal complaint from the college.

"The college has informed us about the incident but we are yet to receive a complaint," Hooda said. Delhi University's current academic session started July 16 with tough anti-ragging measures being implemented with the help of Delhi Police.

During the past year, the country witnessed 88 cases of ragging, of them 12 proved fatal.

Ragging in Kandaghat polytechnic , Four accused girls suspended

August 2nd, 2009

Government Polytechnic for Women, Kandaghat in Solan district, 35 kilometres from here, has come under the scanner with a First Year (Electronics) student, Girija Sharma, filing a case of ragging against four students of the polytechnic.

The ragging victim in a written complaint addressed to the polytechnic Principal alleged that second year students Jyotsna , Aastha, Monika and Sarita not only misbehaved with her but she was also ragged in the name of introduction.

The polytechnic principal Vineeta Arya on Saturday called anti ragging committee meeting which found the four students guilty of ragging and decided to suspend them from classes for a week.

"One ragging accused student lives in Polytechnic hostel and three live in a rented accommodation. All have been suspended from classes for a week," Vineeta Arya, Principal, Government Polytechnic for Women said.

The polytechnic administration notwithstanding the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Bill, 2009 notification has neither filed a complaint against the accused girls in the police station nor have they been expelled from the institution. The government owned polytechnic administration has tried to hush up the case by giving minor punishment to the ragging accused students.

The anti ragging law clearly states that “Any student convicted of an offence under this law shall be expelled from the educational institution and shall not be eligible for admission in any other educational institution for a period of three years from the date of such expulsion. Such offenders will be punished with imprisonment of up to three years, or fine of up to Rs 50,000, or both".

When asked , Government Polytechnic for Women principal said that action has been taken as per the law and there is no need to expel the girls from the polytechnic.

" We have taken action as per the law. You can clarify it from our Director ," Vineeta Arya said.

PU suspends hosteller for ragging

TNN 2 August 2009, 05:13am IST

CHANDIGARH: Panjab University authorities suspended a second-year student of University Institute of Engineering and Technology -- Saurabh Nandel -- from the department and hostel on Saturday. The action came after some students of department of Indian theatre accused Nandel of ragging a first-year UIET student during late Friday night. Nandel’s junior had submitted a written complaint against him with PU. A complaint against him was also lodged with the police.

Sources said that the ragging victim, who is from Noida, was parking his motorcycle in hostel no. 2 on Friday night, when four of his seniors called him and sought his introduction (a euphemism for ragging). As he spoke in English, they objected and told him to talk in Hindi, sources added.

They said that Nandel then asked him to kill all the mosquitoes under a streetlight and threatened that he will also have to parade like Phantom (walking while wearing his briefs over his trousers).

Sources said that students of department of Indian Theatre, who were passing from there, noticed this and asked their UIET counterparts to let the victim go. That led to a confrontation between the groups and the hostel’s warden was informed.

Afterwards, university authorities formed a panel to look into the matter.

Sources said Nandel left for his house in Rohtak during the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. However, PU authorities said he was in constant touch with them and would be returning on Sunday.

Bilaspur College student files ragging case

August 1st, 2009

Shimla : The government college Bilaspur , 76 kms from here has come under the scanner with a second year BA student , Ravikant , filing a case of ragging against five students of the college.

The ragging victim in a written complaint addressed to the college Principal and police has alleged that Pankaj, vijay Kaushal, Nishant , Sunny and Vijay ( all college students of BA Final students) and Ravinder, Mahender and Dimple ( outsiders) not only beat him up but also asked unwanted questions. They tore away his shirt and threatened to kill him by throwing into the lake.

This is the second case of ragging which has come to light in the college during last fortnight. Earlier Surya , a B.A. first year student had filed a ragging complaint at police station. The case is in the court now.

"We have received a ragging complaint. The anti ragging committee will probe the case and action will be taken against the students if found guilty," S.P.Gupta , Principal , Government Degree College, Bilaspur said.

Ragging Complaint Comes in Chandigarh Government College of Arts

31 July, 2009 02:14:00

Chandigarh (Mera Chandigarh): The first ragging case of session 2009-2010 in Chandigarh education fraternity has reported from Government College of Arts on Thursday.
Chandigarh (Mera Chandigarh): The first ragging case of session 2009-2010 in Chandigarh education fraternity has reported from Government College of Arts on Thursday.

According to information, Seema, student MFA (Master of Fine Arts, 1st year) has officially lodged her complaint against Urmila, student of MFA, IInd year, regarding ragging forced by later.

As per victim complaint, the senior student, Urmila not only misbehaved with her in front of students but also used abusive language.

The Chandigarh Government College of Arts administration has constituted a committee to investigate the complaint and report to school by Friday evening.

The matter is still with college authority and has not been reported to police authority as yet.