Ragged, youth tries to kill self

OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jamshedpur, Sept. 4: Tormented by seniors, Kamaljeet Singh, a first-year student (electrical stream) of Government Polytechnic, Adityapur, today attempted suicide by slashing his hands and stomach with a blade on the college premises.
The incident has exposed the institute’s failure in dealing with ragging on campus. Kamaljeet had lodged a complaint with the authorities last year, but no action was taken against the culprits.
In his written statement to the Adityapur police today, he said: “I reached the institute around 8am today. My exam was scheduled from 11am. I went to the common room where a group of seniors demanded Rs 800 to let me cheat. When I resisted, they started abusing me and beat me up.”
The senior students allegedly made derogatory remarks on Sikhism, which prompted Kamaljeet to take such an extreme step. He was rushed him to Sai Nursing Home. “Since the wounds were deep, we referred the patient to Tata Main Hospital. It is tough to stitch wounds inflicted by a blade,” said a doctor at the nursing home.
Kamaljeet’s parents said that last August hey had filed a complaint with the Seraikela-Kharsawan police against ragging. “They had said that a group of seniors were forcing their son to cut his hair, a practice against their religion. We had settled the issue and both the victim and the accused were made members of the anti-ragging committee of the institute,” said Gamharia circle officer Lal Mohan Mahto, who was then part of the inquiry team.
A college student, on the condition of anonymity, said: “Ragging is rampant on campus, especially in hostels, and the institute has failed to curb the menace. The seniors extort money from us for allowing us to cheat during exams.”
The college has denied the allegations. “We will start an inquiry. But this incident cannot be linked to ragging, as we have an anti-ragging committee working full-time. If it were a case of extortion, the student should have first come to us with a complaint. There is no issue of cheating during exams here,” said principal R.L. Saha.
The Adityapur police said that an FIR would be lodged once the culprits are identified. “Kamaljeet has not identified any of the seniors who allegedly misbehaved with him. We will have to probe the matter,” said sub-inspector, B.K. Chaturvedi.