Despite the Supreme Court’s ban on ragging in India in 2001, with a penalty of three years in prison and a fine, incidents of ragging in college hostels continue to surface on social media. A recent case at Bahra University in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, exemplifies this troubling trend. Five students were expelled after brutally assaulting a fellow student for refusing to comply with their demands.
According to NDTV, the assault was captured on camera and involved five students, all younger than the victim, Rajat Kumar, a first-year MBA student. The perpetrators, identified as Chirag Rana, Divyansh Karan Dogra, Kartik, Saksham, and Vishal, subjected Rajat to a vicious attack, including punches, kicks, and whipping with a belt. The assault stemmed from Rajat’s refusal to drink alcohol, a common element in ragging incidents.
The police swiftly arrested the five accused. Chirag, Divyansh, and Karan were apprehended immediately, while Kartik and Saksham were taken into custody the following day. All five were due to appear in court.
The university, reacting to the incident, launched an investigation into the assault. The anti-ragging committee also summoned the accused, but they refused to appear. Subsequently, Bahra University expelled Kartik and Saksham from the university with immediate effect. Karan Dogra and Divyansh were expelled from the hostel and rusticated from the university until further notice. Vishal received a warning to be more cautious.
Rajat Kumar filed a complaint against the five perpetrators at the Kandaghat police station. The police registered a case against the students under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009.
The details of the attack are chilling. On Saturday, two students asked Rajat to join them in another room. When he declined, they dragged him to the room where three others were waiting. Rajat was then pressured to consume alcohol, and when he refused, he was subjected to the brutal assault. The assailants even attempted to force him into a humiliating position known as ‘murga’, threatening further violence if he didn’t comply. This incident highlights the persistent issue of ragging in Indian educational institutions despite the legal consequences. The brutal nature of the assault, coupled with the university’s swift action, sheds light on the gravity of this problem and the need for effective measures to eradicate it.
