SFI to set up anti-ragging squads in colleges

SFI to set up anti-ragging squads in colleges
Sunday November 25 2007 08:52 IST
Express News Service

Window2India: Sports News
Get free fuel worth Rs.1000
THRISSUR: The Students Federation of India will set up anti-ragging squads in all the colleges in order to root out the evil of ragging, SFI state secretary M. Swaraj has said.

Talking to mediapersons here on Saturday, Swaraj said that the SFI would also set up anti-ragging cells in each district.

The SFI will stage a march to the Mannuthy police station on December 4 demanding the arrest of the five senior students of the KAU’s veterinary college at Mannuthy who were accused of ragging a junior student.

He said that the students accused in the ragging cases are not the SFI workers.

Answering a query, he said that the establishment of self-financing professional colleges by the government or under the co-operative sector will help bring down the exploitation of the students by the private self-financing professional college authorities in the state.

[ SAHARA SAMAY ] Two students burnt alive in Gorakhpur

Posted at Tuesday, 23 October 2007 10:10 IST

Gorakhpur, Oct 23: Two first year students of the Gorakhpur University were burnt alive by some unidentified youths, Sahara Samay sources said. They have been admitted to the hospital with severe burn injuries.

The incident took place at the Sant kabir hostel, where some unidentified youths entered their hostel room, sprinkled petrol on them and set them on fire.

The victims were admitted to a private hospital.

The two were first year students and roommates of Gorakhpur University's Sant Kabir Hostel. The incident took place at around 9 p.m. The two victims have been identified as Meraj Lari, a Muslim student, and Bantu Singh who belongs to a village in Gorakhpur.

They were cooking food in their hostel room when around 10-12 unidentified youths barged in, sprinkled petrol on them and escaped after setting them on fire. The incident is being seen as a planned attack as the rooms of the other students were locked from outside when the attack took place. The other hostellers are in a state of shock after the horrific incident.

Doctors said the two have suffered more than 60 per cent burns. Police said they were searching for the culprits. Asked whether it was a case of ragging, police said it appeared to be a case of old enmity and is being seen as a clash between two groups of the University.

[Greater Kashmir] Stop ragging or we’ll commit suicide: IAMS students

MIR FAHEEM ASLAM

Srinagar, Nov 22: Scores of students of the Institute of Asian Medical Sciences (IAMS) at Zakura on Thursday threatened to commit suicide if the college authorities don’t rein in the senior students who are ragging the freshers in the college.

The new comers in the college, who have joined the college nearly a month back to pursue a Bachelors degree in Unani Medicine (BUMS) said the final year students of the college have been “ruthlessly ragging” them for the past one month.

The college authorities, they added, have miserably failed to curb the ragging menace in the college. “We are not against interacting with our seniors. We respect them, but they are resorting to hooliganism and the college administration is watching all this haplessly,” the students, wishing anonymity, told Greater Kashmir.

The seniors, they said, are asking boys to “remove and tighten their pants” in front of girls.

“They (seniors) are asking us to perform immoral acts that we can’t explain,” the students said. “We’re humiliated and nobody is coming to our rescue.”

The college authorities, they said, are not paying heed to their grievances, forcing them to seek help of the media persons in curbing the problem. “We’ll commit suicide if this ragging continues,” said a visibly perturbed student, who approached GK with her mother.

“We’ll quit the college if the college authorities do not initiate disciplinary action against the seniors who have unleashed a reign of terror in the college and are harassing the girls unnecessarily.”

The seniors, they added, have asked them to follow “their guidelines” that they have pasted on certain walls of the college building. The guidelines go like this: “Juniors must know that BUMS seniors are never wrong; if any junior creates indiscipline, he or she will move 3-4 steps backwards and then wish the seniors; if any student complains before the college authorities of ragging, they will be rudely ragged; all juniors will call senior boys as sir and senior girls as madam; and finally no students will use his or her cell before any senior.”

“If any student commits suicide, the college authorities will be responsible for it,” they said, adding, they will request the university authorities to derecognize the college if the ragging continues.

“The university authorities must take a strong note of what’s happening in the college,” they said. When Greater Kashmir apprised the Station House Officer (SHO) Zakura about the problem, he promised action. “I haven’t received any written complaint in this regard. The moment I get receive a complaint in this regard, I assure you that we’ll take action against the culprits,” the SHO, Raja Tasleem said.

When contacted, the college principal Dr Khurseed Ahmad Bakshi said that he has constituted special teams to monitor ragging. “If the students will identify the persons resorting to ragging we will certainly take action against them,” Bakshi told Greater Kashmir. “We can’t tolerate ragging in the college.”

[ The Hindu ] Panel to probe ragging at Cusat

Kerala - Kochi

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: A Syndicate meeting of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) here on Thursday decided to appoint a sub-committee to investigate the ragging case reported from a campus hostel recently.

The sub-committee will submit its report within a week. P.S. Sreejith, Principal of the School of Engineering, will be its secretary.

Syndicate members voiced their protest against the increasing number of ragging cases on the campus.

The Syndicate was divided on starting a new investigation, with the Registrar and the Pro Vice-Chancellor saying that the university authorities had completed a preliminary inquiry. They highlighted the suspension of 21 ragging accused.

Differences cropped up when the university authorities refused to include ragging on the agenda for the meeting. But the Syndicate members owing allegiance to the Left parties opposed the move and demanded an immediate discussion.

The Syndicate urged Vice-Chancellor in-charge and Higher Education Secretary T.K. Jose to ratify the suspension of Registrar A. Ramachandran. The Registrar was suspended on allegations that he had denied benefits to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students during this year’s admission process. Mr. Ramachandran had denied the allegation.

SC seeks ATR from UGC, MCI and AICTE in ragging case

SC seeks ATR from UGC, MCI and AICTE in ragging case


29 October 2007

The Supreme Court has directed University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and Medical Council of India (MCI) to file their action taken report within four weeks, detailing the steps taken by them to check the menace of ragging in educational institutions .

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta, also refused to entertain an application seeking relaxtation in the condition of having 75 per cent attendance for contesting students union elections in a university or a college.

The court told the applicant, " you were given admission for studying and not for indulging in politics at behest of major political parties. You don't want to attend classes but want to indulge in politics and such a situation can not be accepted ." Earlier, while issuing guidelines for checking the menace of physical and emotional torture of freshers in the name of ragging , the apex court had made it clear that " we want students and not goondas in university campus."

Ragging victim identifies 5 senior students

Ragging victim identifies 5 senior students
Wednesday October 31 2007 03:55 IST
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE


THRISSUR: The ragging victim at Mannuthy Veterinary College under the Kerala Agricultural University, Manu, on Tuesday identified five senior students of the college who ragged him in the college hostel last week.

He identified them from the photo album of the students shown to him. The identified students are Praveen P Varghese, Arun Raj MR, Ebin B Mathews, R Assim and Ajas Mohammed.

Manu, hailing from Neyyatinkara, accompanied by R Chandrasekharan, state president of Vaikundaswami Dharmapracharana Sabha and four other officebearers of the organisation met the Ollur Circle Inspector on Tuesday morning and demanded urgent action against the senior students tortured Manu.

They also urged for protection to Manu for continuing his studies in the college. After getting an assurance of action by the police, they met the Dean of Veterinary College putting forward the same demands.

Chandrasekharan said that the response from the Dean on their demand of action was not satisfactory. Manu along with his companions sat on a dharna in front of the Dean’s office for two hours in protest against the Dean’s reaction.

However, the police intervened and showed Manu the photo album of the senior students from which he identified the five students who ragged him.

He said that the police then searched for the identified students in the college hostel. But by the time the police reached the hostel, the students had escaped. Chandrasekharan said that the police had assured them that the culprits identified would be arrested within two days.

Meanwhile, there are reports of ragging of junior students by seniors at Amala Medical College and Research Institute and Vaidyaratnam Ayurveda College in the district.

In the cases of these two institutions, the college authorities have already filed complaints with concerned police stations and investigations are in progress.

Ragging case: KAU suspends 5 students

Ragging case: KAU suspends 5 students
Thursday November 1 2007 02:46 IST
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE


THRISSUR: Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) suspended five senior students of the Veterinary College at Mannuthy on Wednesday in connection with the ragging of a first year student of the college.

The victim identified the five senior students on Tuesday. All the five students are absconding and a search for them is on.

The deadline for submission of the report by a 3-member committee appointed by the KAU to inquire into the alleged ragging was over on Tuesday and the committee is yet to submit the report to the KAU.

KAU Vice-Chancellor KR Viswambharan, when contacted, said that the committee could not complete the inquiry on time due to the non-availability of the alleged victim, who is under treatment at his house in Neyyattinkara.

Five engineering students suspended for ragging

Five engineering students suspended for ragging

Thrissur (PTI): Five senior students of a private engineering college in the district were on Wednesday suspended on charges of ragging a new entrant nearly two weeks ago.

A new civil engineering student in his complaint had alleged that he was taken to a toilet and humilated by his seniors on October 18, authorities of the Vidya Academy of Science and Technology, said.

The college council decided to suspend the five students.

A case has also been registered against the accused at the Erumapetty police station near here.

AICTE warning against ragging

AICTE warning against ragging
Monday October 29 2007 13:42 IST
Express News Service

T'PURAM: The All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has issued a warning to technical institutions across the country that action will be initiated against them in case ragging took place in these institutions. The action will include withdrawal of approval if such cases are brought to the notice of the AICTE.

In a recent case, a first year student of the Mannuthy Veterinary College under the Kerala Agriculture University was ragged inside the college hostel. The student unable to bear the ragging of his seniors, attempted suicide by cutting the veins of his wrist. The student belonging to a poor family secured the money to complete his Plus Two by doing manual labour.

The circular assumes significance in wake of the recent cases of ragging reported in various colleges across the State.

According to the circular AICTE/ legal/10(2)/2007 issued by AICTE member secretary K. Narayana Rao ‘ragging in educational institutions in any form is banned under law. ‘‘All the AICTE approved institutions must ensure that ragging does not take place on their campuses in any form. Should such a case be reported or brought to the notice of the AICTE, then the council shall take necessary action including withdrawal of approval’’.

The circular has been published in the website of the AICTE ,www.aicte.ernet.in and also published as advertisement in leading newspapers.

The notice was published in accordance with an earlier Supreme Court verdict that AICTE should take appropriate measure for preventing ragging in technical institutions.

Ragging rampant in Kerala's professional colleges

Ragging rampant in Kerala's professional colleges

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 29 - An attempted suicide by a first-year veterinary student following harassment by seniors in Kerala led to media reporting about similar cases and highlighting the menace of ragging in the state.

Eighteen-year-old Manu, who worked in paddy fields during his school years to support his family, hoped that his woes would end after he joined the Mannuthy Veterinary College in Trissur earlier this month.

However, harassment by seniors drove him to slash his wrists in an attempt to end his life last week.

'I just could not take all the humiliation. It was too unbearable,' said a sobbing Manu.

Even as authorities were sorting out Manu's case, reports emerged about instances of ragging in two other professional colleges in the state.

On Sunday, two senior students were suspended from the Amala Medical College in Trissur, while five students were suspended from the Pushpagiri Medical College in Thiruvalla for causing mental agony to their juniors.

Reports indicate that the worst affected are students who arrive at these campuses after having done their schooling in the Middle East.

The All India Council for Technical Education has come out with a warning that action would be initiated against the managements of colleges from where cases of ragging are reported.

State Education Minister M.A. Baby told IANS: 'At no cost will our government tolerate such inhuman activities. Irrespective of who is involved, stern action will be taken against the culprits and we are already on the job.

'A mere administrative decision will not be enough to stop this inhuman activity and we will work amongst the society to spread awareness against ragging.'

21 students suspended for ragging juniors in Kochi

21 students suspended for ragging juniors in Kochi

KOCHI: Cracking the whip against ragging, the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) has suspended 21 senior students of the department of Ship Technology following complaints of the offence against them.

The suspended students are from the third semester and were staying at a hostel in Kochi.

CUSAT Registrar Dr A Ramachandran told reporters here that the students have been suspended, pending an inquiry. If a detailed probe finds them guilty, they would be expelled from the college, he said.

Police are also conducting investigations into the incident relating to ragging of the first semester students in September. The victim students had alleged they had been physiclly tortured and that some were forcibly made to consume liqour in a hotel.

A preliminary inquiry conducted by CUSAT officials has found that the junior students were physcially tortured by their seniors from September 4 to September 14.

Following the ragging incident, at least five students have dropped out of the course.

Student lodges ragging complaint

Student lodges ragging complaint

BEHRAMPORE: A student of Murshidabad College of Engineering and Technology (MCET) has lodged a complaint of ragging at Behrampore police station against eight third-year students on Saturday.

Arif Iqbal, the second-year student, alleged that the seniors had demanded Rs 600 from him a few days ago. But he had refused. Things came to a head when they blocked his way while he was going for a class on Thursday and again demanded the amount. But Arif stood firm. This prompted the students to pounce on him and bash him up. Arif suffered facial injuries and his spectacles were broken.

MCET principal Dibyendu Ghosal, however, pleaded ignorance and wondered as to why Arif did not inform him of the matter before going to police.

"I do not know why Arif went to the police first before intimating me anything about the matter. We will set up a committee to probe into the matter. I will request the police not to start an inquiry before we start our investigation," he said. However, deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Santo Mitra ruled out the option. "We are not bound to keep the principal’s request. If Arif has lodged a complaint, police will start an investigation," he added. "I went to the police first as I was frightened," Arif said.

Five students arrested in connection with ragging

Five students arrested in connection with ragging
Thursday November 1 2007


THRISSUR: In connection with the alleged ragging of a junior engineering student, Christo, by the senior students of Vidya Academy of Science and Technology at Kurumal in the district, the police arrested 5 senior students of the college on Wednesday.

Vadakkancherry Circle Inspector said that the students, accompanied by their parents surrendered before him at the police station. He said that they were released on bail later.