Anti-ragging steps at BJMC: Hostel block for freshers, cops on guard

Anti-ragging steps at BJMC: Hostel block for freshers, cops on guard

Pune, July 29: Stung by last year’s incident and the Supreme Court’s directions that those indulging in ragging should be treated as criminals, the BJ Medical College (BJMC) authorities have launched a slew of measures to prevent any such happening this year.

With the academic year set to begin in the first week of August, an entire hostel building has been evacuated to accommodate freshers while the Bund Garden police have been requested to deploy staff at the hostel round-the- clock.

Last year, 17-year-old Akhilesh Shukla, a first year MBBS student from Raipur, was hospitalised with a renal problem after he was forced by senior students to do sit-ups at the college hostel.

The Supreme Court has held that ragging, much like crimes against women like cruelty or dowry-related offences. should be treated as a criminal offence and put the onus on educational institutions to initiate legal action by filing a criminal case against the perpetrators of ragging if the victim or the parents failed to do so.

“We have evacuated the entire D-block which can accommodate 150 students of the total 200 admissions. The senior students have been shifted to the other three blocks. We have put down strict rules that the students will either have to stay in the hostel or at home. They will not be allowed to stay together in a separate flat,” said dean Arun Jamkar.

A letter has been sent to all parents highlighting their role and how they should “admonish their son/daughter not to involve actively or passively in ragging”.

Hostel rector Dr DG Kulkarni said, “Our anti-ragging committee has been formed and we will be keeping a strict watch. With one entire building only for freshers, it becomes easy for us to monitor them. They too would feel at ease with the security the policemen will provide.”

Posters on anti-ragging are being put up at the hostels and the college. “We are asking for an undertaking from every student that if they are found involved actively or passively, directly or indirectly in ragging, the whole responsibility of further consequences lies entirely on them.”

Freshers are happy about the moves. A student from Satara said the security arrangements were a comfort while another wanted the college’s anti-ragging cell to be active throughout the year.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=248247