Alleged ragging incident at Jadavpur University; student hospitalised

Jadavpur University student harassed over laptop theft suspicion, sparking concern after previous ragging incident; campus violence continues.

An engineering student of the Jadavpur University was harassed by a group of students on suspicion that he stole a laptop, university officials said. The case sparked concern as it has been less than a year since a 17-year-old boy fell to his death on the university campus during alleged ragging by his seniors.

On July 24, around 8 p.m., the Jadavpur University’s Medical Superintendent got a distress call from a student at the main hostel, which is situated near the Jadavpur Police Station. When the Medical Superintendent rushed to the spot, he found the distressed student gheraoed by over 50 students, who were forcing him to admit that he had stolen the laptop. The stolen laptop has since been recovered.

The student complained to the official that he was physically unwell and wanted to visit the hospital. However, the students stopped him from escorting the distressed student out, officials said. The students also reportedly told the Medical Superintendent that they would “want to teach him a lesson”. Amid the chaos and heckling, the Medical Superintendent managed to escort him out of the hostel after almost an hour. He was admitted to a local hospital.

Parents of the student, who hails from Purulia, have already reached Kolkata but no formal complaint has been filed till now.

Partha Pratim Ray, general secretary of the Jadavpur University Teachers Association (JUTA), told The Hindu, “After last year’s incident we should all be more conscious. It has not even been a year since we lost a young soul to ragging. No matter what the allegations, even if it is theft, no student can be allowed to take law and order into their own hands and serve street justice to their peers like in Kangaroo courts. This is unacceptable.”

Snehamanju Basu, Registrar, Jadavpur University visited the victim at the hospital and assured that she will assess the situation after speaking to the victim. She told a local news channel that the student may have had a major panic attack due to the harassment he faced at the hostel and that may be the reason behind his hospital admission.