E-Paper
Cops, colleges remain lax on ragging in MP
Despite getting regular information on ragging incidents from National Anti-Ragging Helpline, police continue to remain reluctant about knowing the gravity of ragging in colleges in MP.
Despite getting regular information on ragging incidents from National Anti-Ragging Helpline (NARH), police continue to remain reluctant about knowing the gravity of ragging in colleges in Madhya Pradesh.
Recently, a student of Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) lodged complaint with NARH, which informed the police and the college administration about the incident. However, police did not take any action in this regard.
NARH (Aman Movement) founder Raj Kachroo said, “For the past seven years, I see that the police never bear any responsibility for curbing ragging. Like college administrations, NARH members also inform police, who should at least inquire about the incident. The slacking attitude of police, sometime gives chances to college administrations to hide issues.”
“MP continues to be in the top three states that have sent maximum number of complaints of ragging at NARH. The district administration and police should act seriously, otherwise ragging can turn into a big crime,” he added.
Last year, two students left their respective colleges after being ragged but no action was taken against the accused. A student of a private engineering college had alleged in September 2014 that both his hands were slashed by seniors.
The victim’s father said they faced police inaction, while the administration ill-treated the victim to save the college’s image.
In 2014, a first year student of Government Engineering College, Rewa left college after writing a letter that he was leaving his studies due to ragging.
In the same year, some students of Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT) had lodged a complaint, alleging that drunk seniors had beaten them.
The college administration allowed accused to dodge investigation by getting them to file a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh.
When HT asked town inspector Sudhir Arjariya about inquiry into recent ragging cases, he said, “Police don’t take any action without written complaints. If I find any complaint, I will take action definitely.”
However, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Bhopal, Raman Singh Sikarwar said, “We never ignore ragging cases. I agreed upon that police should at least visit the institute after getting information from any source.”
BU hostel residents complain
Female residents of Barkatullah University’s Indira Gandhi Girls hostel have lodged a written complaint against their hostel superintendent and have held her responsible for sexual harassment in the campus.
After an engineering student was sexually harassed on Monday evening, the students, in a letter to the registrar, said that such incidents were not new.
The girls on campus had been harassed several times earlier and had even informed the superintendent about the incidents.
The girls also alleged that superintendent misbehaved with them and demanded a new superintendent.
BU acting registrar, Anil Sharma, assured the girls of action.
