Thursday, September 12, 2013

Juniors 'stripped, abused' at Thanjavur engineering college

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-12/chennai/37057879_1_junior-students-college-authorities-police-complaint

 THANJAVUR: Four first year engineering students of PRIST University, Thanjavur have complained to the college and the UGC anti-ragging helpline that they were ragged by a group of seniors on Saturday. College dean H Wilson said the incident was prima facie a case of ragging and the college is in the process of filing a complaint with police.

 The dean told TOI that he has received a complaint of ragging on Monday from four first year students and that an inquiry committee has been constituted. "We will take necessary action," he said. According to anti-ragging rules, the college after receiving a complaint has to register a police complaint within 24 hours and constitute a committee which has to take action within seven days.

 First year students Ansul Raj, Ratandeep Kumar, Praseenjeet and Rajesh said six seniors called them for an "introduction session" at a rented place where the seniors lived. "They stripped us and verbally abused us for more than two hours," said one of the victims, who then made a call to one of his seniors. The senior, who did not want to be named, said he rushed to the spot. "My classmates were ragging the boys," he said. "But when I interfered, they threatened me.

Then I informed other students of my class and around 10 students arrived to settle the matter. They attacked us and forced us out of their house. Somehow, we managed to rescue the juniors," he said. Thanjavur deputy superintendent of police Shankar, however, had another version. The police officer said it was a case of assault and, in fact, the senior who purportedly rescued the juniors has been charged with assaulting the six students. The junior students, meanwhile, alleged that police did not register their complaint and forced them to sign a compromise letter.

Thanjavur superintendent of police T S Anbu said he would order an investigation once the college authorities filed a complaint. Meanwhile, the four junior students have approached the Society Against Violence Against Students (SAVE). Meera Kaura Patel, a Supreme Court lawyer and legal advisor of SAVE, said she spoke to the national anti-ragging cell which confirmed having received a call from the Thanjavur college students. A letter sent by SAVE, a copy of with which is with TOI, has requested the Madras high court chief justice to take suo motu cognizance of the matter.

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