Dhar student files ragging complaint against seniors

A first-year student of Government Maharaja Bhoj Degree College lodged a complaint with Kotwali police, alleging that he and his friends were ragged by five of his seniors. Three students have been arrested, police said.

A first-year student of Government Maharaja Bhoj Degree College on Monday lodged a complaint with Kotwali police, alleging that he along with his friends were ragged by five of his seniors.

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Three students have been arrested, police said. The complainant, Dinesh Baghel, 18, stays at the Government Post-Metric SC Boys’ Hostel, run by the SC/ST welfare department at Dhar, about 60kms west of Indore.

Baghel alleged that five students thrashed 26 juniors in the hostel on Sunday night.

"We were asked to assemble at a place in the midnight. They then beat us up saying that they were not following hostel rules and dress code," Baghel said, adding that the seniors threatened them to not to reveal the incident to anybody. "Under pressure, the students decided to keep silent," Baghel added.

Acting on his complaint, Kotwali police have registered a case against five students under Section 274 (adulteration of drugs), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation). The five seniors are hostel committee president Laxmansingh Kannoj, vice president Laxmansingh Solanki, Anil Kachawa, Bherusingh Tagore and Lalsingh Mandloi.

Dhar SP BS Chouhan confirmed that arrests of three senior students but declined the claim of ragging. He said hunt was on to nab the two others.

"No such kind of issue has come to my notice. If complainant approaches us, we will investigate the issue," the SP said.

When contacted, college principal Sunil Alawa said both the victims and accused do not belong to their college. Besides, the incident occurred at the hostel that belongs to the tribal welfare department, he said.

Hostel warden Sattu Mukati refuted the charges, saying: "No such incident can happen at the hostel, since I am present at the hostel during night hours. "Mukati said the complainant left hostel on September 20 after submitting an application.

"A couple of days back, Baghel had submitted an application, saying the he had got a separate room in Dindayalpuram area and wanted to leave the hostel," the warden said.