Student ragged to near blindness in Coimbatore

Saturday, April 11, 2009, (Coimbatore)

In another brutal incident of ragging, Akhil Dev, a first year student of a college in Coimbatore, is close to losing his eye sight.

The 20-year old student was allegedly thrashed by his seniors late in the night on March 7 - the same day 19-year-old medical student, Aman Kachroo, died of ragging in Himachal Pradesh. He suffered severe eye injury and a broken jaw.

Speaking to NDTV, Akhil said the seniors who ragged me are criminals. I don't want anyone to go through the same agony.

Describing his ordeal, Akhil said, "They were five people in all and threatened to kill me if I went back." He also said that he will fight back.

Coimbatore City police have lodged an FIR. The college principal has reportedly suspended a few students and had ordered an inquiry.

The incident occurred even after the Supreme Court came down heavily on college authorities on ragging.

The apex court had given an ultimatum saying people indulging in ragging must be punished and any delay in taking action by the institution may lead to financial aid being stopped.

The court also said if the university is satisfied with initial inquiry, it can suspend the student and immediately inform police.

The state governments have also been directed to implement Raghavan committee guidelines to prevent ragging.

This incident of ragging comes just after a 19-year-old Aman Kachroo, a medical student was allegedly ragged to death by his seniors at the Rajendra Prasad government medical college in Himachal's Kangra district.

Aman was ragged because he was not a local. A group of drunk seniors had allegedly harassed him on earlier occasions, as well.

Ever since they lost their son to ragging, the Kachroos have been on a mission to end ragging on campuses once and for all. The Supreme Court later suspended the principal for not acting promptly to save Aman.