[Statesman] Ragging row: Students suspended

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Statesman News Service

BANKURA, May 26: Mallabhum Institute of Technology, a private engineering college in Bishnupur which has been embroiled in a ragging controversy of late, suspended four third-year students on charges of flouting discipline.

A first-year student of the college recently alleged that he had been ragged by some senior students. Local police are investigating the case.

No third year student, however, has been punished in relation with the alleged incident of ragging. The suspended third-year students are Rahul Singh of electrical department, Prasenjit Mondal of information technology department, Kamalesh Chatterjee of electronics department and Abhijeet Chakraborty of electrical department. They have been suspended on charges of rioting with fellows students and juniors twice during the college sessions in April and May this year.

A notice was issued last evening stating that all of the suspended students would have to vacate the college hostel. They, however, would be allowed to appear for examinations. Rahul, however, would not be allowed to attend classes for the time being. Dr SK Roy, principal of Mallabhum Institute of Technology, told The Statesman: “The inquiry committee found them guilty of creating chaos in the college. So they have been suspended for a period of six months.” He, however, made it clear that the students were not involved in the alleged ragging of the first-year student, Soumya Roy. Soumya has been brought home by his father, Mr Shyamalendu Roy, and he is now at his New Barrackpore residence.

Soumya had reportedly sent an SOS to his father, stating that some of his seniors had been compelling him to inhale narcotics like marijuana and brown sugar for four consecutive days since 19 May. His father lodged an FIR with Bishnupur PS. The college also has set up a six-member fact-finding committee. Dr Roy said: “The committee will table a report and only after that can we ascertain whether the student had actually been ragged.”