[KhaleejTimes] College authorities, police turn tough on ragging

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By Nithin Belle (Mumbai Musings)

25 July 2007

WITH the new academic year having begun, many college managements here have warned senior students not to indulge in ragging of freshers. The Mumbai Police too are taking measures to ensure that there is no ragging on campuses.

The Supreme Court had recently asked the government to take a serious note of the problem of ragging of newcomers at colleges across the country. Ragging has now been made a criminal offence, and the police have been instructed to take action against the perpetrators. College managements have been instructed to file a first information report (FIR) in case ragging occurs inside the campus or a hostel.

Many colleges have formed anti-ragging squads, and senior staff members have been instructed to warn mischief-makers that ragging would not be tolerated. Ragging is widespread in campuses across the country, and what starts off as a harmless activity, ends up in tragedy at times.

Last year, over a dozen students, victims of ragging, killed themselves in different colleges in the country. In most Mumbai colleges, there used to be light ragging of juniors, unlike in some campuses in the north. Though there have been instances of victims taking their lives even in south Mumbai colleges in the past.

But after a stern warning from the apex court, authorities here have decided to act tough with the culprits. The Mumbai Police say that victims can call up the control room number 100 and complain of harassment. Plainclothes detectives are also doing the rounds of colleges and even hostels in the first few weeks of the new academic year to prevent untoward incidents.