All NIFFT hostels vacated after ragging menace rocks campus

RANCHI: Students of National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT), Ranchi, have been asked to vacate the campus after the college authorities ordered closure of all hostels on Sunday.

The action was taken after the students of second, third and fourth year classes barged into the rooms of first year students, ragged and fought with them on Thursday. The seniors also damaged the windows of the junior students' rooms and ransacked their belongings.

NIFFT director S N Sinha said, "Senior students not only had a scuffle with the juniors but when I tried to intervene and stop them, they even threw stones at my house and broke the glass of my car. The situation had gone out of control."

"I am not here to spoil the career of students. I took action after I got orders from the headquarters in Delhi. Taking this step was necessary to diffuse the tension," Sinha added.

After the hostel was vacated, some students went home and others met Union minister Subodh Kant Sahay seeking justice. "We walked down 8 km to meet Sahay. But he was not in town. However, he got the HEC community hall opened for us to spend the night," said Sonu, a third year student.

The students met him on Monday morning. "He said he would take a positive step in this direction and also spoke to the college administration and asked them to reopen the hostel," said Chandan, a fourth year student.

"Most of the students have gone back home and those who are here will stay at their relatives or friends' place until further notice," added Chandan. An agitated Rahul said, "We did nothing. Why should we suffer for the mistake of others? We have all the right to stay in the hostel and attend classes."

The institute director said the hostel would be reopened 20 days later after talking to the guardians of the students.

Hatia additional superintendent of police Indrajeet Mahata said, "We have deployed a magistrate and police at the college gate and in case students try to create any disturbance, appropriate measures will be taken on the orders of the magistrate."