Kolkata: The investigation into the tragic death of the 17-year-old student from Jadavpur University, which has ignited a discourse on the topic of ragging, revealed that he was subjected to the distressing act of being disrobed and publicly marched while naked within the campus hostel, according to police.
On August 9, a first-year undergraduate student tragically fell to his demise from the second floor of the main hostel at the university. His family has come forward with accusations that he had been a victim of ragging and sexual harassment during his stay at the hostel. As of now, the police have arrested 13 individuals in connection with the case.
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“We have questioned boarders and hostel staff members regarding the matter,” Police sources informed.
The teenager in question endured a distressing ordeal that involved being stripped naked and paraded as part of a brutal ragging ritual, lasting over an hour. Fleeing the torment, he rushed from room to room, attempting to escape the relentless bullying he was subjected to. Adding to the cruelty, he was also targeted with homophobic slurs during this traumatic episode, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
The police have amassed evidence implicating a minimum of 12 out of the 13 individuals who have been arrested in connection with the incident. In light of the severity of the situation, authorities are contemplating the application of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
This tragic incident at the esteemed institution has reignited a crucial discourse regarding the deeply ingrained issue of ragging within campus environments. It calls into question the adequacy of existing regulations in combatting this menace effectively.
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The incident has also triggered a political dispute. The opposition party, BJP, has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of negligence in addressing the matter. In response, the Trinamool Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee, has shifted blame onto Governor CV Ananda Bose, assigning him complete responsibility for the situation unfolding at the university.
The Governor, who holds the position of Chancellor at the University and wields the authority to appoint top officials, convened an emergency meeting at Raj Bhavan to assess the progress of the investigation. Earlier, in response to Education Minister Bratya Basu’s assertion of him being “100 per cent responsible,” the Governor asserted to news agency ANI, “I’m a responsible Governor. I will be very glad if someone acknowledges it.”