Bhopal: Ragging turns into nightmare

Bhopal: Ragging turns into nightmare

The son of a farmer, 18-year-old Vishal, wanted to be an engineer. A few months ago, he took admission in a private engineering college in Bhopal to pursue his dream.

His father was happy even if he had to struggle to fund his son's education.

But now, Vishal wants to go back home. He says he and other first-year students were ragged for a month by seniors in the hostel. His head was tonsured and his moustache shaved off.

But things got worse last week when he and other freshers were stripped and made to dance. Those who failed to comply were brutally beaten up.

Unable to take it anymore, Vishal called up his father.

''They would make us strip and dance and then would beat us up. This happened not only with me but with other students as well,'' said Vishal Sharma, ragging victim.

Vishal's father has lodged an FIR but no arrests have been made so far.

Students claim they repeatedly complained to the warden but no action was taken.

Now in an apparent damage control exercise, six students have been suspended and an inquiry ordered.

''We are investigating the matter. Action will be taken against all those who are guilty,'' said Mubin Khan, Administrator, Utkarsh Hostel.

Recently, a first year MCA student committed suicide in Indore allegedly due to ragging. A couple of days ago, two girls of a reputed hotel management institute in Bhopal were hospitalized after they were ragged.

Earlier ragging was a harmless way to break the ice with the newcomers.

Unfortunately now it has turned into a nightmare for many. Despite strict anti ragging guidelines by the Supreme Court, the menace continues.

link to report : http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070028607&ch=10/8/2007%208:48:00%20AM