Teen faces prison for Glastonbury hazing

Teen faces prison for Glastonbury hazing

Glastonbury (WTNH) _ A Bronx teenager will serve nine months in prison for his role in student hazings at a Glastonbury school.

Silvester Baez, 17, pleaded no contest to a second-degree assault charge.

Baez was an upperclassman at "A Better Chance", which is a residential program for gifted minority students, when the alleged hazings occurred.

Prosecutors say three freshmen at the school were slapped, kicked, beaten as part of a hazing ritual.

link to report : http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=6977384&nav=3YeX

Civil suit filed in FAMU hazing case

Civil suit filed in FAMU hazing case

Marcus Jones, once a pledge of the undergraduate chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at Florida A&M University, has filed a civil lawsuit against the five fraternity members he accused of causing him bodily harm.

Michael Morton, Jason Harris, Brian Bowman, Marcus Hughes and Cory Gray were all named in Jones' lawsuit, along with the Alpha Xi chapter and the regional and national offices of the fraternity. The lawsuit also lists the fictitious name John Doe to represent the owner of the warehouse where Jones was severely beaten, causing hemorrhaging and requiring surgery.

"When we get specific information, we can change those John Does to names," said attorney Roosevelt Randolph of Knowles & Randolph, P.A.

Dawn Whitehurst, lead counsel for Jones' civil lawsuit, said individuals like the owner of the warehouse "knew or should have known this type of activity" occurred at the warehouse. An amended copy of the suit was filed Wednesday.

According to the lawsuit, "For the good and safety of individuals on the property, John Doe(s) has assumed the duty of preventing serious bodily injury from occurring on the property."

Whitehurst said Florida A&M University will not be a defendant in the lawsuit.

"FAMU has responded appropriately and swiftly once the incident was brought to their attention," Whitehurst said. The chapter has been suspended from the campus for an extended period.

The personal injury lawsuit cites damages in excess of $15,000, not including interest and attorney's fees.

"From the very beginning, it was really difficult for Marcus (Jones) to come forward," Whitehurst said. "He's not the type that likes the spotlight."

Instead, Whitehurst said, Jones does not want what happened to him to happen to any other young person trying to join a fraternity. Jones' lawsuit claims that the local, regional and national branches of the fraternity failed to monitor activities of their members to ensure anti-hazing.

Morton and Harris have been found guilty in the criminal lawsuit of felony hazing and sentenced to two years in prison. They have appealed.

Bowman, Hughes and Gray pleaded no contest to one count of misdemeanor hazing in the criminal case. They will not have a criminal record.

link to report : http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070823/NEWS01/708230354/1010

2 Plead Not Guilty to University Hazing

2 Plead Not Guilty to University Hazing

By CHRIS NEWMARKER
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 16, 2007; 12:49 PM

TRENTON, N.J. -- A Rider University administrator and a student pleaded not guilty Thursday to aggravated hazing in the binge-drinking death of a fraternity pledge.

Ada Badgley, 31, Rider's director of Greek life, and Dominic Olsen, 21, pledge master for Phi Kappa Tau, did not speak during their hearings. The dean of students and two other fraternity members pleaded not guilty earlier to the same charge.

The pledge, freshman Gary DeVercelly Jr., 18, of Long Beach, Calif., had a blood-alcohol level of 0.426 percent when he was pronounced dead March 30, one day after a special party at the on-campus fraternity house, authorities said.

At the party, pledges drank large quantities of hard liquor with fraternity brothers, some of the pledges consuming entire bottles in less than an hour, prosecutors said.

The Phi Kappa Tau chapter at Rider has since been closed, and Badgley and Anthony Campbell, the dean of students, are on temporary paid leave.

Badgley's lawyer, Mariana Rossman, said after the hearing that Badgley would be exonerated.

Olsen's lawyer, Michael Murphy, said his client wasn't present when DeVercelly was drinking.

Prosecutor Joseph Bocchini Jr. has declined to elaborate on why the two are facing charges even though they weren't present at the party, but he has noted that facilitating is included in the criminal code that defines hazing.

The other students who entered not guilty pleas earlier are Adriano DiDonato, 22, the fraternity's house manager; and Michael J. Torney, 21, the chapter president.

If convicted, the five defendants each would face a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and $10,000 fine.

link to report : http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/16/AR2007081601050.html

Four students held on charge of ragging

Four students held on charge of ragging

Guntur, August 24: The scourge of ragging raised its ugly head again in the city, when four final year degree students of Hindu College charged with ragging on Thursday by the Lalapet police.

Based on a complaint by the first year students of B.A, hailing from Tadikonda and the college management, the Lalapet police charged the four boys with ragging. The students were arrested and later produced in the fourth additional magistrate court. According to Lalapet Sub Inspector M. Hanumantha Rao, the four final year students, including one from B.Com, had been accused of forcing freshers to dance on the college premises and do other uncomfortable things, much against their will. Based on a complaint from the students, the police came to the college on Thursday. They paraded the students and let the first years identify the accused.

Later, the accused were taken into custody.

link to report : http://www.siasat.com/english/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=201617&Itemid=63&cattitle=Andhra%20Pradesh

Panel to probe 'ragging' case

Panel to probe 'ragging' case
28 Aug 2007, 0117 hrs IST,TNN

NAGPUR: The RTM Nagpur university has appointed a three-member committee to probe the alleged ragging of a political science student residing in the varsity’s hostel at Law College Square here.

Gulab Bawanthade on Sunday lodged a complaint against fellow inmate Usmankhan Habibkhan Pathan, accusing the latter of physical and mental torture.

Speaking to TOI, vice chancellor S N Pathan said a preliminary inquiry had been conducted by a two-member committee comprising hostel warden Arun Patil and registrar Subhash Belsare. On the basis of the preliminary inquiry, the university has lodged a formal police complaint.

"The preliminary report suggests that there was no incident of ragging, but it was personal feud between the two. Both of them were classmates while doing MA Marathi. However, the report also brought out some startling revelations that many unauthorised persons stay illegally in the hostel at the expense of these students and harass them," the vice chancellor said.

"Accused Usmankhan is one such person who stays illegally in the hostel and creates ruckus. He is not even an approved teacher of the university. The BPEd college, where he works is also not affiliated to the RTMNU," the VCstated.

The VC said the university’s legal counsel B G Kulkarni had advised him to conduct a detailed inquiry considering the seriousness of the incident. A three-member committee comprising an executive committee member, a dean and a principal would be set up on Tuesday.

"The panel would investigate the incident thoroughly and also hear the version of Hemraj Meshram, who is an eye-witness. His version along with Usmankhan’s would be crucial in the matter. The committee will submit a detailed report within eight days. Based on this report, further action will be taken," he said.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Nagpur/Panel_to_probe_ragging_case/articleshow/2316196.cms

Ragging: Cept takes action against students

Ragging: Cept takes action against students

Express News Service

Ahmedabad, August 25 Days after National Students Council of India (NSUI) made allegations against university authorities for not taking action against senior students for ragging other students, Cept University announced disciplinary action against its students except First Year students on Saturday.

Neelkanth Chhaya, Spokesperson of the university said, “The students who were interviewed said that everybody was responsible because of which we couldn’t take action against specific students.” He further said, “We interviewed more than 90 students and found that a social event was held in which students presented a skit, song and a dance. However, there was no coercion done by students in the event. “

In the findings of the Committee’s report that was discussed on Friday by the Executive Committee members before the students and their respective parents, the punishments were meted out separately to the students’ council members and students body. The present Students Council will be disbanded and members debarred from holding any office this academic year.

The Executive Council also decided to debar the students’ council members from prizes, if they are entitled for any, for this academic year apart from participating in social service.

The university has also charted out disciplinary action on students body of Cept undergraduate programmes, as per which they will have to perform social service through a ‘Community Environment Improvement Project’ at schools and hospitals that are deficient in facilities.

The university had set up a Committee to look after the allegations made by the NSUI of certain senior students ragging new-entrants in full knowledge of university authorities.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=252862

Dean Pleads Not Guilty in Hazing Case

Dean Pleads Not Guilty in Hazing Case

By CHRIS NEWMARKER
The Associated Press
Thursday, August 9, 2007; 4:44 PM

TRENTON, N.J. -- Rider University's dean of students pleaded not guilty Thursday to criminal hazing in connection with the death of a freshman who had been binge drinking at a fraternity house.

The dean, Anthony Campbell, was one of two school officials and three students charged with aggravated hazing. He did not speak at Thursday's court hearing.

The student, 18-year-old Gary DeVercelly Jr. of Long Beach, Calif. had a blood-alcohol level of 0.426 percent _ more than five times New Jersey's legal limit for driving _ when he was pronounced dead March 30 at a hospital, authorities have said. He died one day after drinking at a party at the Phi Kappa Tau house on the private school's campus in central New Jersey.

Prosecutors said the party was a special event in which pledges such as DeVercelly would drink with fraternity members. Some of the pledges drank entire bottles of hard liquor in less than an hour, prosecutors said.

The four others charged are Ada Badgley, 31, the university's director of Greek life; Adriano DiDonato, 22, a student who was also the residence director and house master of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity house; Dominic Olsen, 21, pledge master of Spring 2007 Phi Kappa Tau pledge class; and Michael J. Torney, 21, the chapter president.

DiDonato pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. Badgley, Olsen and Torney have yet to appear in court.

Before Thursday's hearing, Campbell's lawyer, Rocco Cipparone Jr., said his client wasn't at the party and didn't play any role in arranging it.

"I'm not aware of any set of facts and circumstances that could remotely serve as a basis for a conviction of a crime," he said.

Standing with Campbell after the hearing, Cipparone said his client had received many supportive phone calls and e-mails. He described Campbell as a "very caring dean of students."

If convicted of the hazing charge, the officials and fraternity members would face a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine as high as $10,000.

Prosecutors said the defendants "knowingly or recklessly organized, promoted, facilitated or engaged in conduct which resulted in serious bodily injury" to DeVercelly and another student, William Williams, who survived.

Doug Fierberg, a lawyer who has represented hazing victims since the mid-1990s, called the case a watershed that shows universities must take hazing seriously. DeVercelly's parents have retained him.

Henry Nuwer, a professor who has studied campus hazing for years, said it would be difficult for prosecutors to prove Campbell and Badgley committed a crime.

"I haven't seen the reckless disregard you would need for a conviction," said Nuwer, an assistant professor of journalism at Franklin College in Franklin, Ind.

Campbell and Badgley still work at the university. A university spokesman, Jonathan Meer, has said a decision on their status is expected next week.

Cipparone, Campbell's lawyer, has said that his client may need some time off for his legal proceedings, but that he fully intends to continue working at the university.

The school dissolved the Phi Kappa Tau chapter on Friday.

link to report :http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/09/AR2007080901353.html

Attack on deemed varsity

Attack on deemed varsity


Special Correspondent


Attack on deemed varsity


Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: Volunteers of the National Students Union of India , the students’ wing of the Congress, attacked the Centre for Environment Planning and Technology, a deemed university, to protest against alleged ragging of junior students by their seniors.

According to an NSUI spokesman, some freshers in the architecture section were subjected to ragging, which included even “sexual harassment,” by the senior students of the institution on Monday.

On complaints by some parents, the institution authorities allegedly defended the seniors and refused to acknowledge that there was any ragging.

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/15/stories/2007081561671500.htm

CM launches 'Green India' tree plantation programme

CM launches 'Green India' tree plantation programme

Hyderabad, Aug 20 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today launched 'Green India' tree plantation programme to commemorate 63rd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The programme was organised by the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the students wing of Congress.

Speaking on the occasion here, Dr Reddy appealed to NSUI activists to follow the footsteps of Rajiv Gandhi and play an important role in nation building. He wanted the students to involve in various social service activities and work against social evils like ragging and child labour.

NSUI State President Vamshi Chand Reddy said the Green India programme was implemented in each and every district in the state.

link to report : http://www.newkerala.com/july.php?action=fullnews&id=54982

Colleges gear up to stop ragging

Colleges gear up to stop ragging

Panjab University has already suspended six students for ragging their juniors

Khushboo Sandhu

Chandigarh, August 11: The new session of Panjab University (PU) and other colleges has just started and there is an air of excitement one can feel on the campus. However, there is also a slight nervousness among the freshers about the ‘reception’ that would be given to them by their seniors.

The recent incident of suicide by a first year student of Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, allegedly due to ragging by his seniors, has made the authorities in other institutes stand up and take notice.

With the Supreme Court giving stringent guidelines against ragging, the institutes have become strict with action taken against those found ragging.

Panjab University has already suspended six students in the last few days after complaints were received against the students. While five students of University Institute of Engineering and Technology were expelled from the hostel and the department on July 26, one student of Department of Chemical Engineering was suspended on Friday for a week and slapped a fine of Rs 1,000 for ragging their juniors.

Dean Student Welfare (DSW) Prof Naval Kishore says, “We have a Central Monitoring Committee and five sub-committees. Teachers take constant rounds of the campus. The wardens also stay in the hostels till 11 pm.”

He adds, “The Supreme Court guidelines make it clear that if the complainant is not satisfied with the action taken by the authorities, then an FIR can also be lodged.” Besides, posters with phone numbers of the wardens have been pasted on the notice boards in the hostels.

Similarly, at Punjab Engineering College (PEC), DSW Dr K K Garg says, “We have put up posters in all hostels which state that ragging is banned and those found indulging in the same would be punished under the Supreme Court guidelines.”

“The seniors at our college in fact welcome their juniors. They hold a four-day long orientation programme and then the juniors organise a function to thank the seniors,” says Dr Garg.

The city colleges are also geared up to deal with incidents of ragging. Anti-ragging committees have been constituted in almost all city colleges.

Principal of Government College, Sector 46, B S Saluja says young teachers have been made part of the anti-ragging committee. “The teachers took rounds of the college and for many days the students could not recognise them. They took them to be their seniors. And no untoward incident has been reported till now,” says Saluja.

Promila Bhardwaj, principal of Government College for Girls, Sector 11, says the college has been divided into zones and teachers take rounds of the college from time to time. “The wardens have also been asked to be extra cautious. However, once the initial euphoria is checked, there will be no incidents,” she says.

Some city colleges have also started the session for the first year students well before their seniors join back. This gives time for the students to acclimatise with the surroundings.

But even with these measures, certain incidents of ragging have come to light. Introductions late at night continue in some hostels.


link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=250543

College files ragging complaint

College files ragging complaint

Chinsurah/Calcutta, Aug. 11: The Saroj Mohan Institute of Technology in Hooghly today lodged an FIR against “a large number of senior students” for ragging a fresher and sending him to hospital.

Suman Das, an 18-year-old from Jadavpur, was allegedly kicked, punched and slashed by his seniors in a classroom yesterday and then ordered out of the campus by the principal.

The seniors did not even spare Suman’s father Shankar Ranjan Das when he tried to rescue his son, according to the complaint lodged by Shankar at Jadavpur police station.

N.K. Singh, the director of the institute, said: “Last night, I had verbally informed the police immediately after the incident. Today, I went to Balagarh police station with the principal, M.K. Biswas, to lodge a written complaint.”

Three months ago, the Supreme Court had put the onus of action against ragging on colleges. “We have filed the FIR within 24 hours of the incident in accordance with the apex court ruling,” Singh said.

Asked if he had named the seniors in the FIR, Singh replied in the negative. He said a five-member committee would probe the incident. “Let us first complete the internal probe and only then we shall be able to identify those involved.”

K. Kunda, the head of the department of basic sciences, is heading the probe panel.

According to the officer-in-charge of Balagarh police station, Partha Sarathi Paul, the institute said in its complaint that “a large number of senior students had attacked Suman”.

Suman’s father had told Jadavpur police yesterday that he could identify those who had assaulted his son. “Though I do not know their names, I can identify them if they are presented before me.”

“Our officials today visited the institute and spoke to some seniors. It will take a few more days to catch the culprits,” Paul said.

Suman, who was admitted to MR Bangur hospital in Tollygunge, was taken home tonight after a CT scan.

“We brought Suman home after the doctors said there was no reason to worry. We shall now admit him to a nursing home,” his father said.

The principal of Calcutta’s Ashutosh College, Debabrata Chowdhury, today visited Suman and offered him help.

link to report : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070812/asp/bengal/story_8182939.asp

NSUI vandalises CEPT for inaction against ‘ragging’

NSUI vandalises CEPT for inaction against ‘ragging’

Express News Service

Ahmedabad, August 14: Close on the heels of allegations of CEPT University glossing over reports of ragging on campus, members of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) on Tuesday barged into the university with sticks and iron rods and vandalised part of the university alleging university’s inaction against students who ragged 6 First Year students. Meanwhile, the university has formed a fact-finding committee to look into the ragging issue.

According to details, almost 60 NSUI members stormed into the university with sticks and rods in the presence of local guards and broke glasses and furniture in buildings on campus. “We have evidence to prove that some students were being ragged, but authorities are sheltering the culprits. We had given them a day’s ultimatum to take action which they failed to do, therefore, we resorted to violence,’’ said NSUI city president Vinay Tomar.

University authorities later filed a complaint with the Navrangpura Police Station stating unidentified students stormed into the campus and vandalised property. NSUI, on the other hand, said that it would again resort to violence if the issue was not resolved in a couple of days.

Meanwhile, university authorities have set up a committee to look into the allegations. University Dean CN Ray said, “As per the dfirector’s direction we have formed a fact-finding committee to punish the culprits. The findings of the committee will be out in a week’s time.”

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=251040

MBBS fresher driven to suicide due to ragging

AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH: The parents of a first- year MBBS student on Wednesday alleged their son was driven to suicide after being "severely ragged" in Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh.

GMCH Director-Principal H M Swami, however, denied any ragging in the college but said a committee would probe the matter.

Manjot Singh's parents Milap Singh and Paramjit Kaur, who live in Pratap Nagar in Amritsar, demanded a high-level probe into the alleged suicide of their son last Saturday.

They said Manjot returned home after being severely ragged by senior students at GCMH and committed suicide.

Manjot joined classes on July 21, phoned home saying he was "upset" in Chandigarh and that he would come back as soon as possible. "The very next morning he returned," Milap said.

When the parents returned after shopping on Sunday, they found him on the bed "motionless", he said, claiming the boy had ingested some "poisonous substance".

"Later, friends of Manjot told us he underwent severe ragging in college and then went into a depression," he said.

Swami said Manjot was ranked 38 in All-India Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Examination and was staying in the college hostel. He had given his first choice as Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi but was "rejected as he was colour-blind".

He was then referred to PGIMER here, which said his case was not that serious and he could be admitted.

He said Manjot may have been unhappy due to non-selection in the Delhi college.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/MBBS_fresher_driven_to_suicide_due_to_ragging/articleshow/2266496.cms

Ragging in Hooghly: student, parent beaten up

Ragging in Hooghly: student, parent beaten up

Suman Ranjan Das was thrashed for nearly two hours; when his father tried to save him, he too, was targetted

Express News Service

Kolkata, August 10: The Indian Institute of Technology may have come up with a detailed checklist of what consitutes ragging, but the smaller institutions in and around the city are yet to wake up to this menace. A month after a student from Kanpur was mercilessly beaten up and left for dead by his seniors at the Indian Indian Institute of Hotel Management, another youth also shared nearly the same fate in the backyard of the state capital.

Suman Ranjan Das (18), a mechanical engineering student of Guptipara Saroj Mohan Institute of Technology, Hooghly, is now recuperating at the M R Bangur Hospital. His seniors had beaten him up for a good two hours. Not only that, they even assaulted his father.
Lying on the hospital bed with injuries in his head, neck, legs and chest, Suman, a resident of 5/34 Rajendra Prasad Colony near Golf Tower, said: “For two hours, around 40 students of the third and fourth year beat me up. When my father came to my rescue, they did not even spare him. He has suffered injuries on his right leg and head. No one from the college administration or teachers came forward to help us. Later, my father somehow managed to bring me out of the college with the help of Rajib Das, owner of the mess where I was supposed to stay.”

The incident occurred at 11.15 am, Suman said. The first class of the first day had barely started when some seniors came and called him out.

He was ragged verbally and allowed to go. But barely had he reached the class, when the seniors came back in a bigger group, called him out, took him to a corner and started beating him up. When they left, Suman called his father. But within minutes, the gang came back again and the thrashing started afresh.

Sankar Ranjan Das said his son was was to return home by 3:30 pm. But in the noon, he got a call. It was his son, asking for help.

“I immediately rushed to the college and found 50 to 60 students mercilessly beating up my son. When I went to save him, I was also beaten up,” he said.

Rajib Das told Newsline: “When Suman’s father asked me for help, I drove to the college and managed to bring the father-son duo out of the college premises. I was surprised to see that the director and principal of the college were watching the incident as mere spectators.”

Sankar Das, who works in a private company at Lake Road, said: “After the Supreme Court directive against ragging in academic institutions, I thought my son would be safe in the college. But I was wrong. Although Supreme Court has recommended that every institute has to set an anti-ragging squad, there was no such body in this institute.”

Director of the institute, N K Singh, however, said that this was not a case of ragging. “Suman had initiated the scuffle with his seniors as he had beaten up some of them. We will form a committee to inquire into the matter,” Singh said.

Sankar Das has lodged an FIR at Jadavpur Police Station today. “Though ideally this should be a case of Balagarh Police Station, we have received the complaint considering the gravity of the incident. We have started investigating the matter jointly with our counterparts at Balagar,” said a senior officer of Jadavpur Police Station.

SP Hooghly, Rajiv Mishra, said: “This is a serious incident. We will look into the matter and act accordingly. If the accused are identified and proved guilty, severe action would be taken against them.”

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=250358

Rider dean pleads not guilty in hazing death

Rider dean pleads not guilty in hazing death
by Tom HesterThursday August 09, 2007, 3:50 PM



Anthony Campbell, one of two Rider University officials accused in a precedent-setting indictment stemming from the fraternity binge drinking death of a freshman pledge in March, pleaded not guilty today to a charge of aggravated hazing.


Campbell, 51, of Lawrence, is the school's dean of students. He and Ada Badgley, 31, also of Lawrence, the director of Greek life, and three student Phi Kappa Tau fraternity student leaders are charged with aggravated hazing in the death of 18-year-old fraternity pledge, Gary DeVercelly of Long Beach, Calif.

The indictment of Campbell and Badgley marks the first time in the United States that college officials have been accused of playing a role in a hazing death. Authorities said they were not present in the Phi Kappa Tau frat house on the university's Lawrence campus on the night DeVercelly drank himself into a coma during a pledge hazing. He later died in a Trenton hospital. A Mercer County grand jury contended Campbell and Badgley should have done more to prevent underage drinking on campus.

With his attorney, Rocco Cipparone Jr., at his side, Campbell pled not guilty before Superior Court Judge Andrew J. Smithson at the Mercer County Courthouse in Trenton. The judge then released him without bail.

Adriano DiDonato, 22, of Princeton, the fraternity's student residence director, pleaded not guilty Wednesday. Badgley and Dominic Olden, 21, of Kenilworth, the fraternity pledge master, are expected to be in court next week. Michael Torney, 21, of Randolph, the fraternity president, will enter his plea on Friday.

'I think it is unusual," Cipparone said of the hazing charge against Campbell. "I expect at the end of the process we will see the full exoneration of Dr. Campbell."

Cipparone added, "Dr. Campbell is obviously distressed by the charge being leveled against him but the indictment is devoid of any factual allegation of what he can be held criminally responsible."

Cipparone described the case as "One of first ... when an administrator who did not take part in the alleged hazing is charged with it. I am not aware of any precedent."

link to report - http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2007/08/rider_dean_pleads_not_guilty_i.html

PU suspends student for ragging, slaps fine

PU suspends student for ragging, slaps fine

Express News Service

Ludhiana, August 11: A Student of Department of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Panjab University, has been suspended for one week on charges of ragging.

Nalin Ganju, a second year student, has also been suspended from the hostel. Besides, he has been slapped a fine of Rs 1,000.

Action was taken against him after a complaint was filed by a first year student of Hostel number 3. The student initially filed the complaint with the warden, but later took it back. However, the complaint had reached the committee which looks into such cases.

On July 26, five students of UIET were expelled from the hostel and suspended from the department when the freshers complained against them.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=250575

Probe into Hooghly ragging episode

Probe into Hooghly ragging episode

KOLKATA: Police have initiated a case of wrongful confinement, assault and hurt into the incident of ragging at Sarojmohan Institute of Technology (SIT) in Guptipara, Hooghly, on Thursday.

The case was started on the basis of a complaint filed at Jadavpur police station by the father of a fresher against some senior students of SIT.

"We are investigating and have told the college authorities that such incidents should not recur," said Rajeev Mishra, Hooghly superintendent of police, on Saturday. During the day, West Bengal University of Technology vice-chancellor Ashok Nath Thakur, too, ordered a probe into the incident.

"I have asked the principal of Sarojmohan Institute of Technology to identify the culprits and lodge a complaint with the police. Stern action will be taken against those found guilty."

SIT principal M K Biswas has formed a committee to probe the incident. "We will take action as per the committee's recommendations," he said.

Suman Das, the 18-year-old victim, has undergone several tests at M R Bangur Hospital. "He is yet to overcome the trauma. But his condition is stable and we are keeping a watch on him," said hospital superintendent H K Chandra.

Asutosh College principal Debabrata Chowdhury visited Suman. "A CT scan has revealed injuries in his head and boot marks on his chest. I have asked him to continue with physics honours at Asutosh if he doesn't go back to SIT."

"I will not send my son back to that college," Suman's father Shankar Ranjan Das said. "I will lodge a complaint with Balagarh police station against the attackers, whom I can identify. I want exemplary action against the guilty so that no one meets the fate of my son."

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Probe_into_Hooghly_ragging_episode/articleshow/2274620.cms

Efforts on to curb ragging

Efforts on to curb ragging

PATNA: The ban notwithstanding, medical colleges in Patna — Patna Medical College and Nalanda Medical College — have been notorious for ragging of freshers.

Now that classes for first year MBBS started from August 1, the authorities concerned at Patna Medical College and Nalanda Medical College authorities have geared up to prevent cases of ragging. A five-member vigilance committee has been constituted in Patna Medical College to check ragging. The committee comprises of the newly-appointed Principal of PMC and head of forensic medicine department Dr RKP Singh, head of physiology department Dr Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, head of pharmacology Dr Sushila Rao, head of anatomy department Dr Khurshid Alam and head of biochemistry department Dr Ram Vinay Sinha.

Dr Singh has issued a notice to all the heads to personally receive the first year students, 10 minutes before the commencement of classes and escort them to the college gate when the classes are over each day. Medical colleges hostels have always been in news for the frightening incidents of ragging. But as far as ragging in Patna Medical College hostels is concerned, the principal has left no stone unturned to check ragging there as well. "I have been regularly visiting all the six boys’ hostels and the girls’ hostel to prevent ragging," the principal said.

Dr Singh has also instructed the superintendents of the hostels and wardens to keep special vigil on the students and ensure that not even a single incident of ragging takes place in the hostels. "I have appointed some of the senior students to keep an eye on the new batch and save them from ragging. There have been incidence in our college when students from neighbouring colleges come and rag our students. These senior students will also stop such incidents," said Dr Singh. Dr Prasad said steps have been taken to generate awareness among students about their responsibilities. They are responding in a positive manner and not a single incident of ragging has been reported till now. Stern action will be taken against the students who try to rag their juniors. Such students may even be expelled from the college.

Nalanda Medical College principal Dr CB Choudhary has also instructed the teachers of the college to be vigilant. "I have instructed the teachers to be present in their classes 10 minutes before the commencement of classes. Till date, not a single incident of ragging has been reported in the college."

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/Patna/Efforts_on_to_curb_ragging/articleshow/2273281.cms

Gujarati parents worried by spurt in ragging cases

AHMEDABAD — With as many as three ragging cases coming to light in famed residential educational institutions in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and Jamnagar in Gujarat, worried parents have decided to admit their wards in other schools and colleges.


While as many as 43 Class X students fled from an army school in Jamnagar after constant torture by seniors, first-year students of a government dental college here were subjected to sexual harassment by seniors and in the faculty of science in Vadodara's M.S. University, freshers have complained that post-graduate students forced them to sing love songs and narrate dirty jokes.

In the well-known Balachhadi army school, located 17km from Jamnagar and set up by the erstwhile ruler, Class XI and Class XII boys used to gatecrash into the hostel rooms of Class X, switch off their fans, woke them up and thrashed them with belts. When complaints to the principal yielded no result for five days, 43 of them escaped from the hostel and spent the whole night near a highway till villagers the police were told about a large group of youngsters roaming in the dark.

The boys were back in the hostel the next morning and the principal promised to punish the guilty but many parents still removed their children from the army school fearing revenge by the seniors.

In the dental college here, seniors used to force the juniors — who had begun their academic lessons only on August 1 — to perform 'striptease' dance and even ask them to make love with each other till the doctor father of a student complained to the higher authorities. Four senior students later tendered written apologies.

link to report : http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/August/subcontinent_August307.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=

Vadodara students caught for ticketless travel

Vadodara students caught for ticketless travel
NDTV Correspondent
Thursday, August 9, 2007 (Vadodara)
From the clutches of cruel seniors to that of the Railway police. That's the fate of 53 school students heading home in order to escape ragging.

The students who were hostellers in a Jamnagar school run by the armed forces had complained to school authorities about ragging.

They escaped from school last week and returned after a compromise was worked out between parents and the management.

When ragging persisted, students were told to proceed on leave till end-August.

The school made no arrangement for the students to leave, left with little choice students boarded a train only to be caught for ticketlesss travel.

link to report : http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070022064

Anti-Ragging squads formed in CUSAT

Anti-Ragging squads formed in CUSAT
Kochi, Aug. 10 (PTI): To check the Ragging menace, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) has set up 28 Anti-Ragging squads in its various departments.

This would come as a big relief for the new students of the School of Enginering at nearby Kalamassery and the Cochin University of Engineering at Kuttanad in Alapuzha district.

All the Head of the Departments (HOD)s would periodically meet the university registrar to review the activities of the squads, CUSAT Registrar, Dr A Ramachandran, told PTI.

CUSAT has lot of students from North India and Bihar.

No complaints have been received, he said. However, the father of a Bihari student sent him an e-mail two days ago saying that his son had fears of being ragged. The student was called and counselled and told to inform the squad in case of any ragging incident, Ramachandran said.

The squads were formed early this month just as classes commenced from August 2 for the fresh batch of engineering students.

All the seniors have to give an undertaking to their HODs stating that they would not indulge in ragging. In case of any incident, they would be dismissed from the university after an inquiry and a police case would be registered, he said.

At least 30-35 per cent of the students in CUSAT are from North India and Bihar.

The B.Tech department heads had discussed the issue at a meeting on July 30 in the wake of the supreme court's direction to ensure that ragging was stopped in educational institutions and it was decided to set up the squads and take strict action against seniors, indulging in ragging.

Anti-ragging cells have been constituted which would bring out banners and posters against the menace. 'Ragging is anti-humane; We are civilised' has been put up in diffrent places at the campus and strict action would be taken against those indulging in ragging, he said

The posters would also carrying telephone numbers of the HODs, police commissioner, and kalamassery police number. The student can directly inform the police in case of any incidnet, Dr Ramachandran said.

About 100 new students had been found walking around with their heads shaved. However, when asked none of the students have complained about their seniors, he said.

It is learnt that the freshers have been instructed by their seniors not to lift their heads and walk in the campus, wear the same slippers they use in bathrooms while attending college, and not to tuck in their shirts.

The squad members, comprising teachers, would also visit the hostels at night.

The first year students are mostly staying in private hostels and as paying guests, he said. The students have been told to refuse any directive from the seniors to visit their hostels at night and inform the squad.

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200708100323.htm

Ragging: Students flee Sainik school

Ragging: Students flee Sainik school

RAJKOT: Trouble erupted in Balachhadi Sainik School in Jamnagar district following an alleged case of ragging and the subsequent clash between students in the wake of which over 40 class X students fled the campus on Sunday night.

Sources said even as majority of the students were tracked down and brought back to the school, situated 14 km from Jamnagar along the coastline, in the wee hours of Monday, some parents staged a protest on the school premises over the alleged ragging of these students by class XII students.

"We want an explanation from the authorities and also an apology from the errant seniors, who ragged our son Dhruv," Bhanubhai Trivedi said over phone. He said his son, a class X student, fled the campus on August 4 as he was unable to bear the ragging and reached home in Ahmedabad next day.

"He told us how his seniors in 11th and 12th standards made him do physically tough tasks, humiliated him and beat him with belt. However, we told him the matter would be taken up with the authorities," Bhanubhai said.

Jodia police inspector DL Zala, who helped track down the missing students with the help of villagers who had seen them outside the campus, said he got a message from adjoining Balachhadi village that a few students are roaming near the coast around 11 pm. He said that after reaching the spot the students were questioned. They expressed the fear that they would be beaten up by their seniors. Initially, the children were taken to Khira ashram near the school and after informing the school authorities, they were taken back around 5 am on Monday.

School principal Captain B C S Bharti, however, had another version to the whole episode and told a news agency that a student of class X had beaten up a senior and fled.

"It is not a case of ragging. It is a fight between two groups of students. A few days ago a class X student beat up his senior, and following this 43 students have fled the campus last night. We are trying to identify them. The angry parents have also been told about the matter," he said.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Ragging_Students_flee_Sainik_school/articleshow/2260887.cms

Senior medical students held for ragging junior

Senior medical students held for ragging junior


Anti-ragging panel set up on Supreme Court orders in March this year has found 2 students of Rajiv Gandhi Medical College in Kalwa guilty of cruelly ragging 19-year-old first year student on August 1

link to report : http://www.mumbaimirror.com/net/mmpaper.aspx?page=article§id=2&contentid=2007081120070811022604515edebf1dc

Probe into Hooghly ragging episode

Probe into Hooghly ragging episode

KOLKATA: Police have initiated a case of wrongful confinement, assault and hurt into the incident of ragging at Sarojmohan Institute of Technology (SIT) in Guptipara, Hooghly, on Thursday.

The case was started on the basis of a complaint filed at Jadavpur police station by the father of a fresher against some senior students of SIT.

"We are investigating and have told the college authorities that such incidents should not recur," said Rajeev Mishra, Hooghly superintendent of police, on Saturday. During the day, West Bengal University of Technology vice-chancellor Ashok Nath Thakur, too, ordered a probe into the incident.

"I have asked the principal of Sarojmohan Institute of Technology to identify the culprits and lodge a complaint with the police. Stern action will be taken against those found guilty."

SIT principal M K Biswas has formed a committee to probe the incident. "We will take action as per the committee's recommendations," he said.

Suman Das, the 18-year-old victim, has undergone several tests at M R Bangur Hospital. "He is yet to overcome the trauma. But his condition is stable and we are keeping a watch on him," said hospital superintendent H K Chandra.

Asutosh College principal Debabrata Chowdhury visited Suman. "A CT scan has revealed injuries in his head and boot marks on his chest. I have asked him to continue with physics honours at Asutosh if he doesn't go back to SIT."

"I will not send my son back to that college," Suman's father Shankar Ranjan Das said. "I will lodge a complaint with Balagarh police station against the attackers, whom I can identify. I want exemplary action against the guilty so that no one meets the fate of my son."

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Probe_into_Hooghly_ragging_episode/articleshow/2274620.cms

No Ragging Foundation steps into Action

Immediately on hearing the news and that an FIR has been filed under Jadavpur Police Station by the victim's guardians, we sent a team to the police station.

In the afternoon the Co-ordinator of No Ragging Foundation, Dr. Kushal Banerjee talked to the victim's father over phone. According to their discussion over phone, a team went to their house at Jadavpur at around 11 am today ( Aug, 11th, 2007) and assured them of every possible help.

After a long discussion the them decided to meet them again tomorrow after the meeting of the organization.

The media has been very much co-operative here. They have supported the family very much. Media had contacted No Ragging Foundation to know our stand in this incident.


Anyone interested may contact us at -

contact@no2ragging.org

Ragged, sent off campus- College seniors gang up Against fresher

A STAFF REPORTER


Suman Das, 18, lies in his hospital bed on Friday, a day after seniors in his new college ragged him brutally. Picture by Amit Datta Shankar. (Below) Ranjan Das, Suman’s father, was not spared by the ragging mob


Suman Das’s first day in a private engineering college turned out to be his last there, when the boy from Jadavpur was brutally ragged by seniors and then ordered to leave the campus by the principal.

According to a complaint lodged with Jadavpur police station by Shankar Ranjan Das, his 18-year-old son was kicked, punched and slashed by students of Saroj Mohan Institute of Technology in Guptipara in the classroom on Thursday.



Suman, who is now under observation at MR Bangur Hospital in Tollygunge, had secured 86 per cent marks in Higher Secondary and then cleared the joint entrance exams to gain admission to the mechanical engineering stream in Saroj Mohan Institute of Technology in Hooghly district.

According to the complaint, the father and son had gone to the institute on Thursday morning. Trouble started as soon as Suman entered the classroom. Some seniors surrounded him and demanded to know why he was in jeans and why his hair was not cut short.

When Suman replied he was not aware of a dress code, his seniors pounced on him and started beating him up.


“They rained blows on his head, stomach and chest,” said Das. “Suman slumped to the floor and somehow managed to call me from his cellphone.”

Das, who had not yet left the campus, rushed to the classroom. But when he tried to rescue his son, even he was not spared. “Some senior students started punching me, while the others kept beating up my son. I finally managed to rescue him from the mob and run towards the principal’s office,” Das said. “I thought we would be safe there, but the seniors barged in, pushing us aside.”

In front of principal M.K. Biswas, the ragging brigade turned the tables on Suman, accusing the new boy of hitting them and blaming him for the fracas.

“I was shocked at this,” Das said. “As I protested, the students surrounded me and started demanding Rs 15,000, apparently for a cellphone one of them had lost in the skirmish.”

Das refused to pay up and tried to tell the principal what had happened. “But instead of listening to me, he asked me to leave the institution with my son at once and never return,” recounted the father, shattered by the ragging and the attitude of the authorities.

Biswas dismissed the allegations and said: “If the students were the first to lodge a complaint against Suman Das, how can you call this a case of ragging? We will probe the incident and then decide what action to take.”
Suman was taken to MR Bangur Hospital, where doctors immediately advised hospitalisation. “He has suffered bruises from kicks and punches, and there are even slashes and cuts on his arms,” said a hospital spokesperson.

This comes three months after the Supreme Court ruled that for every incident of ragging, where the victim or his parents are not satisfied with the educational institution’s arrangements, an FIR must be filed by the institution.

Link to report

Govt panel to probe ragging complaint

Govt panel to probe ragging complaint

AHMEDABAD: A three-member committee has been appointed by the state government to probe into the complaint of brutal ragging at the dental college in Civil hospital premises.

The fact-finding committee includes the dean of the dental college where the incident allegedly occurred and two other professors from the BJ Medical college.

The ragging complaint rocked the Government Dental College and Hospital on Monday when the father of a student told the college authorities that his son had been subjected to physical abuse.
Dr G J Parmar, dean of the Government Dental College and Hospital, said, "We have already completed our internal inquiry — conducted by our three-member committee of wardens — and submitted the report to the government. The government the committee will now investigate into the matter."

A committee member said, "We are going to question all the senior students in the college, who have been accused of brutal ragging sessions which include physical abuse. We will also look into the letter submitted by the student’s father to college authorities."

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Govt_panel_to_probe_ragging_complaint/articleshow/2266805.cms

MBBS fresher driven to suicide due to ragging

AMRITSAR/CHANDIGARH: The parents of a first- year MBBS student on Wednesday alleged their son was driven to suicide after being "severely ragged" in Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh.

GMCH Director-Principal H M Swami, however, denied any ragging in the college but said a committee would probe the matter.

Manjot Singh's parents Milap Singh and Paramjit Kaur, who live in Pratap Nagar in Amritsar, demanded a high-level probe into the alleged suicide of their son last Saturday.

They said Manjot returned home after being severely ragged by senior students at GCMH and committed suicide.

Manjot joined classes on July 21, phoned home saying he was "upset" in Chandigarh and that he would come back as soon as possible. "The very next morning he returned,"Milap said.

When the parents returned after shopping on Sunday, they found him on the bed "motionless", he said, claiming the boy had ingested some "poisonous substance".

"Later, friends of Manjot told us he underwent severe ragging in college and then went into a depression," he said.

Swami said Manjot was ranked 38 in All-India Pre-Medical and Pre-Dental Examination and was staying in the college hostel. He had given his first choice as Maulana Azad Medical College in Delhi but was "rejected as he was colour-blind".

He was then referred to PGIMER here, which said his case was not that serious and he could be admitted.

He said Manjot may have been unhappy due to non-selection in the Delhi college.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/MBBS_fresher_driven_to_suicide_due_to_ragging/articleshow/2266496.cms

HCU wakes up to ragging

HCU wakes up to ragging

HYDERABAD: Huge posters carrying anti-ragging messages put up by 'concerned students' welcome visitors to the University of Hyderabad (HCU), but on the sylvan campus ragging has become rampant. On August 3, at MH-H —men's hostel— students of the chemistry department were reportedly ragged by their seniors in the presence of students' union president and vice-president, according to the poster. However, HCU authorities dismissed the incident with a mild warning to the 'perpetrators'.

Jolted by the incident, HCU authorities have decided to crack the whip on erring pranksters. Ironically, the university has no functional anti-ragging cell. When asked to comment on the cell, HCU vice-chancellor Seyed E Hasnain said: "Thankfully, there were no cases of ragging reported, so we did not feel that there is a need for it (anti-ragging cell). But ragging is considered indiscipline and hence any such cases would come under the purview of the disciplinary cell."

The university, however, claims that in spite of not having any exclusive anti-ragging cell, they were capable of handling ragging issues which crop up every academic year. "Ragging is a serious offence. If we get to know of any instances of such behaviour, we will take strict measures against the misbehaving students," HCU chief warden B Ananthakrishnan told 'TOI' on Tuesday. On the basis of a recent incident —reported misbehaviour of second year M Sc students in one of the men's hostels— the chief warden and deputy chief warden had conducted raids on August 3.

Subsequently, a group of four students from the department of chemistry were warned. "We have also deputed security guards at the hostels to ensure that ragging does not happen," deputy chief warden Vasuki Belavadi said.
Though the authorities were not willing to disclose the names of students who were involved in the act, posters on the campus have alleged that students' union president B Venkataramaiah and vice-president Kamakhya Singh were present at the place of ragging. When asked about the incident, Vekataramaiah claimed the allegations were aimed at demoralising him before the elections. He refused to comment further.

Many second year students hold interactive sessions with juniors. Such sessions, which are aimed at building a rapport between consecutive batches, do not end up in ragging, the authorities said. "We do not mind our seniors interacting with us or even throwing a little attitude. What we do mind is an insult or humiliation. Ragging at this level becomes some kind of sadism," said Narayana Swami, a first year student of M A (communication).

HCU dean (students welfare) G Umamaheshwara Rao said any complaint which reaches the notice of the authorities would be sent to the disciplinary committee and would be dealt seriously. A few ragging cases have been reported in the past few years. In 2005, freshers of the chemistry department were forced to stand in the rain by their seniors, while first year MCA students were left on the bank of Peacock lake on the campus.

However, HCU authorities maintained that they have not received any complaints from the 'victims'. "The victims might not be ready to complain because they are scared of the consequences. Hence, there should be some kind of anti-ragging cell," M Phil economics student, Nandita suggested.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hyderabad/HCU_wakes_up_to_ragging/articleshow/2263948.cms

Ragging victim to lose another year

Ragging victim to lose another year
Sunday August 5 2007 12:35 IST
SAMBALPUR: Shib Shankar Ash, the victim of ragging, will have to miss this academic session. He is yet to recover from the spine injury which has left him bed-ridden since October last year.

A first year student of OUAT, Bhubaneswar, when he was allegedly thrown from the terrace during ragging by his seniors resulting in multiple injuries.

Although the OUAT Vice-Chancellor had allowed his transfer to the College of Agriculture at Chiplima near here, he is yet to walk on his own even after 10 months.

And as he lies motionless, it has been an uphill task for his automobile mechanic father Satyajit to arrange money for the second operation.

Satyajit who is yet to repay the loan he had availed of to get his son operated on at Bangalore.

The operation cost him over Rs 5 lakh. He is now on the look out for another Rs 2 lakh for the second operation which may help Ash walk again.

The OUAT authorities had paid only Rs 75,000 and washed their hands of the affair after giving Ash permission to join Chiplima college.

link to report : http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070805021339&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0

Seniors accused of taking it too far

Seniors accused of taking it too far

VADODARA: Allegations of ragging rocked M S University's Faculty of Science on Monday. It all started with student leaders at the faculty alleging that senior students enrolled in Master of Science (M Sc) course ragged some of their juniors in classes in physics department on Monday morning.

A group of students led by Harikrishna Rao alleged that a few students of MSc (final) had ragged MSc (previous) students in physics department. However, senior students led by Nikhit Desmukh countered them stating that the allegations were baseless.

Desmukh showed signatures of 30 students enrolled in MSc (previous) who stated that they had neither been ragged nor had the seniors misbehaved with them.

"I have topped last year and was there to meet juniors so that we could hand over previous year's subject material to them. If that is considered ragging then we have nothing to argue against," he said.

Sources in the faculty, however, link the allegations with forthcoming MSU Students Union elections. MSUSU elections are likely to be held before September 1 and several student leaders are raking up one or another issue to remain in limelight. Sources suggest both Rao and Desmukh are eyeing the post of faculty general secretary at science faculty.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Seniors_accused_of_taking_it_too_far/articleshow/2260910.cms

Ragging allegations rock state

Ragging allegations rock state

AHMEDABAD: An incident of harsh ragging rocked the government dental college and hospital here on Monday. The student's father informed the college authorities that his son had been subjected to physical abuse. This was the third incident of its kind after brutal incidents of ragging threw the Balachhadi Sainik School in Jamnagar and Faculty of Science in M S University in Vadodara in a tizzy on Monday. In Ahmedabad, the student, a fresher who had joined the college on August 1, complained of continuous brutal ragging by some senior students at the institute campus.
However, he has not revealed the names of his tormentors and the nature of ragging he had to undergo. Nor has the police been intimated in this regard. His father, a medical practitioner based in Vadodara, has made a written complaint to the college authorities in this regard.

The matter came to light when the victim's father wrote a complaint to the college authorities demanding appropriate action against the senior students who had ragged his son. G J Parmar, dean of the Government Dental College and Hospital, said, "We have already constituted a three-member committee of wardens to investigate the matter.""In case the student agrees to reveal the names of his tormentors, we are ready to lodge a police complaint against them. Ragging of any nature cannot be tolerated in educational campuses," added Parmar.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Ahmedabad/Ragging_allegations_rock_state/articleshow/2260906.cms

Gearing up against ragging

Gearing up against ragging


Staff Reporter




Kochi: Newcomers on campuses have some good news. Aimed at checking ragging with an iron hand, educational institutions in the city are gearing up to launch anti-ragging squads.

The Cochin University of Science and Technology announced last week that the squads would closely monitor the activities of freshers and senior students. The move comes in the wake of a Supreme Court directive that immediate measures should be implemented on campuses against ragging.

A committee headed by R.K. Raghavan, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, had recommended that higher education institutions must keep an intense watch on students having negative entries in their school-leaving certificates.

Non-compliance with the directives against ragging in any manner whatsoever should be considered as lowering of academic standards by the errant institution.

The Kochi city police authorities said the regulatory authorities must proceed against such errant institutions by imposing the prescribed penalties already provided under their respective statutes/regulations, which they would otherwise have exercised in matters lowering academic standards.

City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said the police would cooperate with the heads of educational institutions in drives against ragging.

Awareness campaigns would help in keeping a tab on ragging-related issues on the campuses, he said.

Sheela Paul, Principal of Maharaja’s College, said the disciplinary committees on the campus would try to avoid incidents of ragging on the campus.

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/05/stories/2007080550270200.htm

Medical student barred from giving exams

Medical student barred from giving exams

Lucknow, August 6: A FIRST-YEAR student of Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University (CSMMU), caught cheating during an examination, was declared failed in the subject. He has also been barred from appearing in any internal examination for the next six months. The student was caught by the internal squad on Sunday during a bio-chemistry examination. It was the last examination for the 2006 batch. Chits and other incriminating material were seized from the student. Officials suspect that the student may have been cheating in other examinations as well. CSMMU officials said the idea behind the punishment was to set an example for other students. “The message is clear that none will be spared if caught using unfair means during any university examination. The students should also realise that there is strict punishment waiting for them, in case they are caught cheating,” said V K Singh, proctor of the university. Meanwhile, rumours of ragging spread across campus today. However, the administration said there had been no instance of ragging in the campus. Merely, a few seniors were found talking to juniors in a rude manner for which they had been warned of punitive action.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=249532

Ragging leads students to flee hostel, spend night out on road

Ragging leads students to flee hostel, spend night out on road

Rajkot, August 6: HARASSED by seniors and fearing more ragging, as many as 43 students of Balachadi Sainik School in Jamnagar fled from the hostel and spent the entire night on the highway near Jodia, some 7 km away on Sunday. They returned to the school hostel only after authorities promised action against senior student raggers. The students, however, allege that authorities have also turned blind eye to their complaints of severe ragging by the seniors of Classes XI and XII. The school, established by erstwhile ruler of Jamnagar and that also provides army training, offers CBSE syllabus from Class I to XII with hostel facility. On Sunday night, 43 of total 96 students of Class X ran away from the hostel. The walked up to nearby town Jodia and spent entire night out in the open on the highway. The school authorities located them in the morning. Most of the students hail from UP, Bihar and Jharkhand. `The seniors would beat us with belt in the name of ragging. Everyday we were asked to come in fancy dress and the physical harassment kept increasing’’, said Ravi Kumar, one of the students who had fled. Siddhant, another student, alleged that they made several complaints to principal in this regard but in vain. “Principal did not reply to phone calls by our parents in this regard’’, said another student. Principal BK Bharthi said, ``All students are safe and back in hostel now’’. But he maintained that he had not received any written complaint in this regard. However, he said, the matter would be taken seriously and action taken against seniors, if found guilty.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=249621

Four students suspended for ragging

Four students suspended for ragging

Kanpur, August 6: Four MBBS students of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Medical College here were today suspended on charges of ragging, while authorities are probing similar allegations against 20 others.


The four second-year students were found involved in the ragging of some first-year students on Saturday. An anti-ragging committee of the college decided to suspend them until further orders, Prof S K Katiyar, head, GSVMC, said.


Appropriate action will be taken on the basis of the committee's report, Katiyar said, adding complaint against 20 other seniors was also being investigated. (Agencies)

link to report : http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B5C337FBE-EB8A-472F-846C-95B36CFBDF3F%7D&CATEGORYNAME=CRME

Four students suspended for ragging

Kanpur, August 6: Four MBBS students of Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Medical College here were today suspended on charges of ragging, while authorities are probing similar allegations against 20 others.


The four second-year students were found involved in the ragging of some first-year students on Saturday. An anti-ragging committee of the college decided to suspend them until further orders, Prof S K Katiyar, head, GSVMC, said.


Appropriate action will be taken on the basis of the committee's report, Katiyar said, adding complaint against 20 other seniors was also being investigated. (Agencies)

link to report : http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B5C337FBE-EB8A-472F-846C-95B36CFBDF3F%7D&CATEGORYNAME=CRME

AIIMS takes steps to prevent ragging

AIIMS takes steps to prevent ragging


Staff Reporter




NEW DELHI: To ensure that medical students joining the country’s prestigious medical research and healthcare institution All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) do not face any harassment because of ragging, the administration has put up anti-ragging banners across the Institute and also written to parents advising them to keep a check on their wards to prevent any untoward ragging incident.

This additional precaution the Institute has taken will ensure that students don’t indulge in any form of ragging, said a senior AIIMS official. Warning of strict action against anyone caught ragging, students have also been given a list of names of faculty members they can approach in case of any complaints.

In a letter to students and their parents, the administration said: “We are writing to you on an important issue that concerns all of us and that is in the welfare and well-being of all our students. We reiterate that AIIMS is committed to stop harassment of newcomers by seniors under the pretext of ragging. Far from being enjoyable, ragging can have a negative effect on newcomers. We have written to all the parents and hope they prevail upon their wards to desist from ragging.”

The administration said: “By and large our senior students have been extremely responsible and have shown utmost maturity and care while dealing with newcomers. We expect them to continue with this good behaviour and assist us in our endeavour to make the newcomer feel at home.”

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/06/stories/2007080654520400.htm

Gearing up against ragging

Gearing up against ragging


Staff Reporter




Kochi: Newcomers on campuses have some good news. Aimed at checking ragging with an iron hand, educational institutions in the city are gearing up to launch anti-ragging squads.

The Cochin University of Science and Technology announced last week that the squads would closely monitor the activities of freshers and senior students. The move comes in the wake of a Supreme Court directive that immediate measures should be implemented on campuses against ragging.

A committee headed by R.K. Raghavan, former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, had recommended that higher education institutions must keep an intense watch on students having negative entries in their school-leaving certificates.

Non-compliance with the directives against ragging in any manner whatsoever should be considered as lowering of academic standards by the errant institution.

The Kochi city police authorities said the regulatory authorities must proceed against such errant institutions by imposing the prescribed penalties already provided under their respective statutes/regulations, which they would otherwise have exercised in matters lowering academic standards.

City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham said the police would cooperate with the heads of educational institutions in drives against ragging.

Awareness campaigns would help in keeping a tab on ragging-related issues on the campuses, he said.

Sheela Paul, Principal of Maharaja’s College, said the disciplinary committees on the campus would try to avoid incidents of ragging on the campus.


link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/05/stories/2007080550270200.htm

Four students of mining tech expelled for ragging

Four students of mining tech expelled for ragging

DHANBAD: The management of Indian School of Mines University (ISMU), Dhanbad, India's only mining technology institution, has expelled four students following a complaint by a first-year student.

A day after their expulsion, the management on Saturday asked the four third-semester students — Sahil Arora and Ashish Yadav of mineral engineering, Setu Goyal of environmental engineering and Mrigansh Mishra of petroleum engineering — to vacate the hostel immediately.

First-year student Piyush Kumar had lodged a complaint with ISMU authorities against the four for physically torturing him in the name of ragging on Thursday. The ISMU management then constituted a four-member team comprising ISMU dean of students welfare P R Gupta, dean of academic research R Venugopal, dean of planning and design A Chattopadhyay and registrar P S Shidhu to probe the incident.

Gupta, who headed the probe team, told TOI the punishment wasn't harsh. "We followed the HRD ministry guidelines, and the instructions of the SC. The police were insisting on arresting them. We hadn't called the police to the campus. We told the police that ISMU was not in favour of their arrest," he said.


link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Four_students_of_mining_tech_expelled_for_ragging/articleshow/2256155.cms

Coopersville teen gets probation for hazing baseball teammate

Coopersville teen gets probation for hazing baseball teammate

Coopersville - A teenager involved in a Coopersville hazing incident will serve six months probation and 14-hours of community service.

The teenager pleaded guilty yesterday to gross indecency before a juvenile court referee.

Investigators say the boy and four other members of Coopersville High School's junior varsity team slapped a teammate, rubbed his private areas, and put their body parts in his face.

The cases against the other three accused teenagers are pending.

All have been expelled from school for a year.

link to report :http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=78859

5 Charged In Rider Univ. Hazing Death

5 Charged In Rider Univ. Hazing Death
(CBS 3) TRENTON Two high-ranking Rider University administrators have been indicted in the March 2007 hazing death of a freshman student.

Mercer County prosecutor Joseph Bocchini announced aggravated hazing charges against Dean of Students Anthony Campbell and Director of Greek Life Ada Badgley for 18-year-old Gary DeVercelly's death this spring.

Also indicted were student leaders of the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity that DeVercelly was pledging to join -- Adriano DiDonato, 22, Dominic Olsen, 21, and Michael Tourney, 21.

DeVercelly of Long Beach, Calif. died of alcohol poisoning after a fraternity hazing event.

"There is a culpability factor involved in the ingestion of alcoholic beverages on a college or university campus,"
Bocchini said.

A police investigation revealed that DeVercelly participated in a "Family Drink" tradition as part of the fraternity's pledge process, during which all of the pledges consumed several shots of hard alcohol -- and in some instances entire bottles -- in less than one hour.

Through the investigation, it was also learned that 27 of the 28 students that participated in the “Family Drink” tradition were under the legal drinking age of 21.

DeVercelly was transported to Capital Health System’s Fuld Campus in Trenton after the game and was later pronounced dead.

According to an autopsy, the medical examiner found DeVercelly's blood alcohol level to be .426. The legal limit in New Jersey is .08.

A second student, 19-year-old William Williams, was taken to the hospital with DeVercelly at the time but was treated in the emergency room for alcohol poisoning and released.

Rider University is not a dry campus and students 21 years of age and older can drink in their dorm if no one under the age of 21 is present.

Aggravated hazing is a fourth-degree charge and carries a maximum penalty of 18 months in prison and a fine of $10,000 if the accused are convicted.

link to report : http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_215125905.html

BIT fresher in hospital, ragging suspected

RANCHI: A fresher at the Birla Institute of Technology at Mesra consumed poison, apparently after going into a bout of depression brought on by ragging. Dharamdas Oraon, enrolled in a biotechnology course, is being treated at a private nursing home in Ranchi. Family sources said Dharamdas had come to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences on July 27 with complaints of uneasiness. After doctors detected signs of poisoning he was shifted to the nursing home on Wednesday by his family.

Dharamdas got admitted to the college on July 21 and was allotted a room in block III hostel the same day. His family members denied the boy made a suicide bid and instead alleged his seniors might have forced him to consume intoxicating substances.

"Had he consumed poison, he would not have gone to the hospital on his own," his grandfather, Dev Sharan Bhagat, said, adding his behaviour suggested the boy was mentally tortured.

Bhagat said police tried to record his statement but failed to do so. "He seems scared and falls unconscious every time the police arrive to record his statement," he said. The boy’s father, Sohrai Oraon, said his son was admitted to RIMS under mysterious circumstances. tnn

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/BIT_fresher_in_hospital_ragging_suspected/articleshow/2249735.cms

Manipal: First day excitement clouds ragging fear

Manipal Aug 2: "We avoid the term ragging, instead we call it Personality Development Exercise (PDE)." The self explanation by a senior student may not bring relief to over 1,000 anxious freshers of the Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT). But their first day excitement helped them overcome all fears. The intake of over 1,000 students is the highest in the MIT’s history.

As freshers looked forward to exposure, the immediate concern for some of them was how the seniors would treat them. Would there be ragging? There is a ban in place, but it still happens in professional colleges in some form or the other. What Is it going to be like here? Parul Sukreet, from Patna, will pursue Information Technology. She was delighted about the new campus and atmosphere. She told The Times of India, "The MIT campus is amazing and I have never seen such a huge set-up in my life time. The seniors appear friendly. They seem to be the encouraging so I do not fear there will be any drastic ragging.
Manohar Pai, HoD of Information and Communication Technology, has been reassuring and has instilled a lot of confidence in us."

New faces, new home away from home and an altogether different world. Everything was exciting for students coming from different parts of the country and abroad. There were a whole lot from Delhi. Achin Bhatia was one who traveled all the way to see his dream come true. Pranika Kapur, a student of G D Goenka Public School, New Delhi, said she is not worried about ragging. But the first impression she has gathered is that the seniors are all good.

The first day was meant for orientation, to fill forms, to get accommodation and for a word or caution from the top brass of Manipal University. Both Pro-chancellor H S Ballal and pro-vice chancellor S S Pabla, who is also the director of MIT, briefed the students.

While encouraging them with everything nice, they also spoke of the Lakshman Rekha which they should be careful not to cross. They did not mince words and said if any student was found using drugs or found guilty of indiscipline, they would be expelled immediately. Madhavi, a third year student was seen guiding the newcomers. But a senior student who did not want his identity to be disclosed said ragging will only help the freshers to gain self-confidence.

"We avoid the term ragging, instead we use, "Personality Development Exercise (PDE)." S S Pabla said this year MIT has seen a largest contingent of freshers, precisely 1,458 under-graduate students were enrolled for I year BE.

link to report : http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=49393

Student ends life, ragging suspected

BARGARH: A student of Larambha College was found dead in his hostel room on Tuesday night.

Pratap Kishore Sa, a first year Plus-Two science student, ended his life by consuming pesticides allegedly because of ragging.

While his father Kunja Sa has claimed that Pratap could have died due to ragging, the college authorities refuted the charge. Pratap belonged to Nandanmal village in Sonepur district. Kunja went with his son to the college on July 24 before returning to his village.

On Tuesday, after attending a class in the morning, Pratap came back to his hostel. Later, he was found lying motionless by his room-mates. He was rushded to VSS Medical, Burla but was declared brought dead.

Pratap reportedly consumed pesticides. Maintaining that his son was innocent, Kunja said either ragging or some derogatory remarks might have forced him to end his life. He has lodged an FIR with the Godbhaga police outpost.

Principal of Larambha College Upendra Pradhan said it was a clear case of suicide and denied ragging or harassment. Police have, meanwhile, begun investigation.

link to report : http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070802031452&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0