[DNA] 22 fashion institute students are suspended for ‘ragging’

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‘Victim’ in hospital, but accused students have denied allegation.

Twenty-two students of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, have been suspended for a week for allegedly ragging first year students. The second and third year students were given suspension letters by NIFT Director IB Peerzada on Friday morning.

The students, however, have denied the charge.

Institute authorities were tight-lipped about the incident. The name of the alleged victim was not disclosed.

NIFT authorities were told that the “victim” had been admitted to hospital after the alleged ragging. The victim suffered an asthmatic seizure after the incident, which led to the hospitalisation, sources said.

However, the 22 students maintained that there was no ragging . They claimed that the admitted student suffered from the asthmatic seizure on his own.

After the letters of suspension were given to the students, they were asked to meet the director one by one in the evening and present their version.

Only two students got the chance to place before the director their version.

The others have been called on Monday.

Meanwhile, the juniors have written a letter to the director saying they did not have any issues with the seniors.

They have also denied that they were being ragged.

Attempts to contact Peerzada proved futile, as he was busy in the meeting with the senior students till evening.