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

R R Patil promises strict anti-ragging laws

R R Patil promises strict anti-ragging laws

Mumbai, Jul 30 : Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil today assured the Legislative Assembly that government would enact strict laws to curb the menace of ragging in educational institutions.

The assurance came in response to an adjournment notice moved by BJP leader Eknath Khadse and CPM member Narsayya Adam soon after the house assembled after a four-day break.

The members highlighted the suicide of Jalgaon-based Dr Digvijay Patil, who was studying for an M.D course at the Solapur Medical college. The two members said in his suicide note, Digvijay has blamed his seniors--three girls and one boy for his death.

Patil said an investigation would be carried out into the suicide and the four students would be booked under section 306 of the IPC.

Their medical registration would also be cancelled, he added.

He promised to enact strict legislation to stop the menace of ragging.

link to report : http://www.newkerala.com/july.php?action=fullnews&id=50376

Freshers have a reason to smile

With the LU authorities managing to check the menace of ragging, freshers are indeed a happy lot


THE Lucknow University (LU) campus is back to life. The sight of young boys and girls rushing around in their colourful attires is indeed a sight to behold. The campus is resonating with the non-stop chatter of these raring-to-go youngsters. And why not? For most of the facchas the days of regimented discipline are finally over. Though initially, this excitement was tempered by the fear of ragging.

However, the LU freshers seem to be a relaxed lot this time. And they have a reason to feel so. The LU officials have a mechanism in place to fight the menace of ragging. “We have set up a cell to check the menace.

The proctorial board members will are making random visits to classes, and the deans and HoDs have been asked to step in when required. Besides, the police and PAC are also helping us,” informed LU Proctor Dr AN Singh.

Ragini Srivastava, a first year commerce student, candidly states: “Ragging! What’s that? I was very apprehensive of being ragged by my seniors but nothing has happened so far. In fact, my interaction with them has been quite pleasing.” Well, there’s no denying the fact that ragging in its dreaded form is not to be seen on LU campus but the much enjoyed ‘intro’ is definitely very much there. “We haven’t ragged our juniors this time, but yes we’ve interacted with them and made them sing and dance which anyone would enjoy,” said a bunch of IInd year students.

Tell them about the UGC circular pertaining to ragging and the associated disciplinary actions against the accused and they react, “Hamen bhi maloom hai ki hamare against action ho sakta hai. Isliye hamlog aisa kuch nahin karte hain jissey hamen koi punishment mile.” Well, the UGC message really seems to have worked wonders on the LU campus.

However, LU authorities are not stopping at this. The university plans to start an orientation program for freshers – the way it’s done in universities abroad. “Once the entire admission process is completed on the 14th of next month, we will conduct a two-day orientation program for the students of undergraduate classes and a one-day session for the students of post graduate classes.

They will be made aware about the university, the deans and HoDs and the proctor office, about the Student Welfare Department. Besides, they will be given other vital information, essential for their stay in the university as a student.

And obviously, ‘how to stay away from ragging’ will also be a major agenda,” informed Dr Nishi Pandey, Dean, Student Welfare. She adds that the contact numbers of various important LU officials will also be given to the students.So, it seems happy days are here again.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Lucknow_Times/Freshers_have_a_reason_to_smile/articleshow/2244774.cms

Anti-ragging law to be made stringent

Anti-ragging law to be made stringent


Special Correspondent




MUMBAI: Maharashtra is contemplating an amendment to the anti-ragging law in the State to provide for severe punishment, according to Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil.

Mr. Patil was responding to an adjournment motion in the Assembly on Monday in the wake of the suicide by a post-graduate medical student, Digvijay Patil, of a government medical college in Solapur on July 25. The student had blamed four other students for his step in his suicide note. Nobody has been arrested.

Mr. Patil who holds the home portfolio, however, did not specify the punishment but said that it was the responsibility of colleges to protect students against ragging. He said a senior police officer would investigate the Solapur incident and strict action would be taken against the guilty. The doctors involved in the ragging will lose their registration, he said.

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/31/stories/2007073155311400.htm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ragging cloud on student ‘suicide’

Ragging cloud on student ‘suicide’
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Lucknow, July 27: An Allahabad technology student died of strangulation earlier this week, a post-mortem revealed today, raising the stench of ragging gone too far.

Suicide was believed to be the cause after Alankeswar Mishra was found hanging from the ceiling of his room in Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology on Tuesday.

But the post-mortem report today revealed that the 18-year-old was strangled. Police say they suspect “a crude form of ragging”.

Vijay Kumar, deputy inspector-general (Allahabad range), said the door of the room in which Alankeswar was found had been locked from inside. But another door, leading to the hostel compound, was open. The key to the locked door was found in the pocket of the deceased.

“We initially thought it was suicide. Now we have to take it seriously. The line of investigation has changed. We are looking at the possibility of ragging in the institute. He was in the first year,” Kumar said, adding that a murder FIR has been filed.

Rakesh Mishra, Alankeswar’s father, said over the phone from the family home in Kanpur that his son was a “victim of violent ragging”. “He said he was scared of seniors when he left home on July 23 for his hostel. This is a case of murder but we don’t know if it was intentional.”

Rupesh Jain, a friend and college-mate, said Alankeswar had been humiliated by seniors, mostly facing abuses, but said: “I am unaware of any violent attack on him.”

Some junior students, however, suspect that as the death was the result of strangulation, Alankeswar might have been murdered.

The police suspect that the door could have been locked with the help of a duplicate key while another could have been put in the pocket to put investigators off track.

The grilling of Alankeswar’s two roommates and another friend — all said they were in class when the death occurred — hasn’t given the police any clue.

link to report : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070728/asp/nation/story_8117406.asp

Student strangled, says report

New Delhi News

Allahabad: The engineering student, whose body was found hanging from the ceiling of his hostel room here two days ago, was strangulated, said the post mortem report. Found dead in hostel
Eighteen-year-old Alakeshwar Mishra, a native of Kanpur who had joined the Moti Lal Nehru National Institute of Technology here, was found dead inside his hostel room on Wednesday.
Police had stated that it appeared to be a case of suicide even though it did not rule out “twists in the tale” as the room was locked from outside and the keys were found from the pocket of the student.

However, with the post mortem report saying his death resulted from strangulation, police suspect he might have been murdered and the killers hung his body from the ceiling and locked the door with the help of a duplicate key, putting the original inside the pocket of the deceased to confuse the investigators. While police have interrogated Mishra’s two room-mates, who have claimed that they were in the classroom when the incident happened, no vital clue has emerged so far.

Meanwhile, the incident has triggered a shock wave in the Moti Lal Nehru National Institute of Technology campus, with the authorities having formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident and also put stringent curbs on ragging, which was initially believed to be the cause behind the alleged suicide. -- PTI

Link to report

[ Ragging ??? - 27th Ragging death since 2000? ]

Ragging ban cuts little ice with CU

Ragging ban cuts little ice with CU
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Is Calcutta University lax in enforcing the ban on ragging?

The authorities deny it, though they are not abiding by a UGC rule that students seeking admission to postgraduate courses must sign a declaration stating that they will not rag juniors.

The UGC had issued circulars to all universities early this year, making it mandatory for students seeking admission to give an undertaking that they would not bully, harass, tease or humiliate anyone on the campus.

The admission form must have a section bearing the declaration that the students have to compulsorily sign. Besides, the prospectus distributed along with the admission form should refer to the ban on ragging.

The ban has been announced by the Centre and the Bengal and other state governments.

Jadavpur University and Bengal Engineering and Science University (Besu) have already introduced the system, but the admission forms being distributed by Calcutta University (CU) do not contain any section on ragging.

CU registrar Samir Bandyopadhyay said the authorities would inquire into the lapse, but claimed that ragging hardly occurs at the institute.

He admitted that the Union human resources development ministry, UGC and the state government have banned ragging and that signing the declaration by students has been made mandatory.

“We will find out why there is no word about ragging in the prospectus and the admission form for the 2007-08 postgraduate courses,” said Bandyopadhyay.

An official of the university said the UGC, in its circular, has clearly stated that “every institute must incorporate details about the ban on ragging in its prospectus and in the admission-related documents.”

Students seeking admission to CU’s postgraduate courses are being asked to give the following declaration: “...If I remain absent from the classes continuously for 10 days or intermittently for more than 50 per cent of classes held during any three consecutive weeks, my studentship will be automatically struck off from the rolls, according to admission rules of the university.”

link to report : http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070728/asp/calcutta/story_8114403.asp

Police gear up to foil ragging

Police gear up to foil ragging

PUNE: In view of the fresh academic sessions starting at institutions in the city and learning a lesson from a ragging incident at BJ Medical College (BJMC) last year, when a first year student had to be admitted to the intensive care unit, the police have decided to start anti-ragging cells/committees at police stations to prevent such incidents.

A notification was issued to all police station and special branch officials on Wednesday, requesting them to form committees comprising school, college and university students, teachers and other authorities to keep a check on ragging.

The notification has placed Bharati Vidyapeeth, Deccan Gymkhana, Kothrud, Bundgarden, Yerwada, Sahakarnagar, Chatushrungi, Hinjewadi and Pimpri police stations on high alert as a majority of the educational institutes come under their jurisdictions.

It has been observed that most of the ragging incidents were reported during the initial days of the new academic year, the notification said.

City police commissioner Jayant Umranikar said, “Basically, we want to provide a communication point to the representatives of police, college authorities and students. These communication points can collect information related to students who may be involved in ragging.”

He said that the local police station will contact students and teachers to establish these communication points and set up committees, which will provide information to the deputy commissioner of police, special branch.

Umranikar urged the police to use the Maharashtra Anti-Ragging Act of 1999, which bans ragging in the state and stipulates stringent punishment for offenders.

Incidents of ragging have rocked academic institutions time and again. On September 4, 2006, Akhilesh Shukla (17), a first-year medical student of the BJMC, was admitted to the ICU of Sassoon hospital after he was allegedly ragged by his seniors at the college hostel. He was reportedly forced to do sit-ups for an inordinately long time.

In 2003, as many as 26 students were shown the door at the ILS Law College following a ragging incident. The S.P. College too was in the news for ragging.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Police_gear_up_to_foil_ragging/articleshow/2234484.cms

PU suspends five students for ragging

PU suspends five students for ragging

Express News Service

Chandigarh, July 26: Five third year students of University Institute of Engineering Technology (UIET), Panjab University, were expelled from their hostel and suspended from the institute for allegedly ragging two first year students. The Central Monitoring Committee of the university took the decision.

The suspended students include three students of Electronics and Communication Engineering - Assem Yash Bhatiya, Anil Santlani and Abhimanyu Kapoor, while the other two are students of Information Technology - Ravi Kant Swami and Amit Soni. They were ragging the freshers in Hostel No. 2.

The suspended students claimed that they were just asking the freshers for their introduction. However, Dean Students Welfare Prof Naval Kishore said the hostel warden called him on Wednesday night and told him about freshers being ragged. “The two students who were being ragged also complained against them,” Prof Kishore said.

The monitoring committee was constituted recently to curb ragging on the campus. The committee decided that the students would remain suspended till further order. A copy of the decision has been sent to the Director, UIET, and the warden concerned for immediate action. The two freshers have left for their homes.

Meanwhile, the president of the Students Organisation of Panjab University, Harpreet Singh Multani, said expelling students from the hostel and suspending them was a harsh decision. “We will give a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor tomorrow then we will start an agitation,” he said.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=247838

College authorities, police turn tough on ragging

College authorities, police turn tough on ragging
By Nithin Belle (Mumbai Musings)

25 July 2007



WITH the new academic year having begun, many college managements here have warned senior students not to indulge in ragging of freshers. The Mumbai Police too are taking measures to ensure that there is no ragging on campuses.


The Supreme Court had recently asked the government to take a serious note of the problem of ragging of newcomers at colleges across the country. Ragging has now been made a criminal offence, and the police have been instructed to take action against the perpetrators. College managements have been instructed to file a first information report (FIR) in case ragging occurs inside the campus or a hostel.

Many colleges have formed anti-ragging squads, and senior staff members have been instructed to warn mischief-makers that ragging would not be tolerated. Ragging is widespread in campuses across the country, and what starts off as a harmless activity, ends up in tragedy at times.

Last year, over a dozen students, victims of ragging, killed themselves in different colleges in the country. In most Mumbai colleges, there used to be light ragging of juniors, unlike in some campuses in the north. Though there have been instances of victims taking their lives even in south Mumbai colleges in the past.

But after a stern warning from the apex court, authorities here have decided to act tough with the culprits. The Mumbai Police say that victims can call up the control room number 100 and complain of harassment. Plainclothes detectives are also doing the rounds of colleges and even hostels in the first few weeks of the new academic year to prevent untoward incidents.

Mumbai police makeover

BOLLYWOOD movies have for years been poking fun at Mumbai's cops, belittling their achievements, dubbing them as inefficient and corrupt, and lampooning them for tardy investigations.

Of course, not all cops are like the typical Bollywood 'hawildar' or inspector, and many rightly feel hurt at the negative portrayal of the force. For the first time, Mumbai police is now trying to do something about this negative image — not by hauling up movie-makers, but by training their men to be more PR-focused.

Police chief D.N. Jadhav is focussing on the human resource development aspect of his force, and wants his men and women to undergo training programmes that would cover motivational aspects as well.

The police will hire experts from the private sector, who will train the harried men and women, especially the constables and sub-inspectors who patrol the city's mean streets. The trainers will focus on aspects like stress management, communications skills, spoken English, and also motivate them to take on the daily challenges.

Jadhav and other senior officers also want to focus on the physical health of the cops, many of who are out of shape. The paan-chewing, pot-bellied cop is a standard Bollywood character, and efforts are now being made to put the men through a rigorous exercise plan.

Five police stations have been identified and the administration is equipping them with mini-gyms and other facilities that will help the men and the officers to trim the flab. The police have also gone in for tie-ups with private gyms, trainers and equipment suppliers, who will provide them with treadmills, exercise cycles, and weights.

So don't be surprised if in future Bollywood flicks you come across cops from Mumbai who are as fit as the heroes and are able to take on a dozen villains single-handedly.

link to report : http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/subcontinent/2007/July/subcontinent_July1059.xml§ion=subcontinent&col=

Anti-ragging committee for a ragging-free JNU

Anti-ragging committee for a ragging-free JNU

Parul Sharma





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In line with apex court directive to combat ragging

“JNU is not vulnerable to any form of ragging”


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NEW DELHI: In line with the Supreme Court directive instructing educational institutions to be pro-active in dealing with the menace of ragging, Jawaharlal Nehru University has set up an anti-ragging committee, the first since its inception.

For an institution that has almost no history of ragging, the committee will seek to work in tandem with student councillors of different schools at JNU to deal with such cases, if any. The committee will meet next month to outline a clearer role for its members as the new academic year begins on August 1.

The three-member committee is headed by the Dean of School of International Studies, Pushpesh Pant. “Ragging as a concept is alien to JNU. No student has ever complained of ragging in my four decades of association with the University. Our girls are safe on the campus even at midnight, while boys have also never been subject to ragging at any level, not even in the hostels,” he said.

“When I received the notification about the new committee last week, I was really surprised because we really do not need something like this on our campus. In fact, all these years I have wondered why other institutions have not learnt from JNU. Our University is not vulnerable to any form of ragging, not even an occasional incident of a fresher being asked to sing a song or something like that. We have a mixed crowd and there is a lot of freedom on the campus. Our students are also very active and see to it that JNU remains ragging-free.” Prof. Pant pointed out the Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment also takes care of a lot of such issues on the campus. He attributed the no-ragging attitude on the campus to the JNU students’ union office-bearers in the first few years of its coming into being. They used their idealism and discretion to initiate such healthy traditions.

“Everyone lived like a family. The relationship between the teacher and the taught was very good. The students’ union of the early years should be given credit for initiating a positive tradition and inculcating the right attitude on the campus that have been duly continued by others over the years,” said Prof. Pant.

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/25/stories/2007072559800300.htm

Want to report ragging? Call 100

Want to report ragging? Call 100

Mumbai Police draw up list of ‘mischievous seniors’, to deploy men, women in campuses

Ashutosh Patil

Mumbai, July 23: As first year junior college classes are about to begin, here’s some good news for freshers. The Mumbai Police are taking several anti-ragging measures—from deploying both men and women in plainclothes to preparing a list of “mischievous seniors”. But most important of all, their emergency helpline number, 100, will accept ragging complaints.

“Prevention is better than cure,” said Brijesh Singh, DCP (Zone 1 - South Mumbai). “Although we have instructed educational institutions to take every possible measure to stop ragging, we will keep a vigil to avoid ragging inside or around college campuses. We will also ensure an official complaint is lodged to stop the menace.”
In fact, DCPs have been in touch with heads of educational institutions and are instructing principals and senior administrators to make students aware of the stringent anti-ragging law in the state. Also, the police will step up night rounds at residential campuses just to make sure.

Colleges have welcomed the police initiative and some have even formed anti-ragging squads. Pradip Kulkarni, principal of DG Ruparel College, said, “Although there have been no ragging cases in our college, senior professors and myself do keep a watch over students during recess. Now, police vigilance will help.”

The police have also issued necessary instructions to those who man the emergency helpline numbers regarding ragging complaints. RC Tayde, ACP (main control room), said: “Any ragging complaint will be treated very seriously. It will be given due response and police officials will be instructed immediately.”

The Supreme Court has already made it obligatory for educational institutes to file an FIR in case of ragging, thereby bringing such cases under the purview of the legal system. In 1999, the state passed the Anti-ragging Act after a student of Sophia College, Indu Anto, committed suicide on being mercilessly ragged and humiliated by seniors in the hostel.

Ragging entails a punishment of imprisonment up to two years with a fine of as much as Rs 10,000.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=247380

Panjab University gears up for student council polls

Panjab University gears up for student council polls

Khushboo Sandhu

Chandigarh, July 24: The student’s council elections at Panjab University and colleges may be scheduled for September, but all the parties have started gearing up for the day. While students wearing badges of different parties are seen in different colleges, welcoming the freshers is on in the varsity. President of Students Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) Harpreet Singh Multani says that the seniors are welcoming the freshers by visiting classes. “The hectic activity would start once the date of elections is announced. As of now we are holding meetings to plan activities and also going to different hostels to meet the students,” he says.

The Indian National Students Organisation (INSO) has also formed an anti-ragging squad. President of the Chandigarh unit of the party Vikas Rathee says, “The students of University Institute of Engineering and Technology face the problem of ragging. Our squad would keep a check that no freshers are harassed. Teams of five students each have been deployed in the hostels also. Our helpline numbers have been advertised so that it is easier for the students to contact.”

In a bid to woo freshers, different parties helped students with the admission formalities. From filling forms to deposition of fees, students were helped in every way. At Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Sector 26 the Chandigarh Students Union and Khalsa College Students Union had distributed pamphlets with their numbers when admission forms were being sold. They then answered queries of the parents and students.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=247590

Mangalore: Boys' Hostel Ransacked - Revenge for Ragging Suspected

Mangalore: Boys' Hostel Ransacked - Revenge for Ragging Suspected

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (RD)
Pics: Dayananda Kukkaje

Mangalore, Jul 22: Over thirty youth, believed to be supporters of a victime of ragging, ransacked Maaza Boys' Paying Guest House, located at Kodialbail, Mangalore on Sunday July 22 morning.

There were 30 inmates living in the guest house, wherein a junior student, Raju Kurian, was subjected to ragging by the seniors. The youth arrived in large numbers at the guest house, waylaid and beat up the owner, Salam.

The police arrived at the scene who took control of the situation and took the leader into custody.
Mean while, Salam assured the victim that such things would not take place in the future, besides demanding police protection at the guest house.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Salam said the group of youth attacked the hostel and damaged the property. The kitchen, toilets, fans, and other valuable items were badly damaged.

Earlier, the group tried to set ablaze two wheelers parked inside the hostel premises by dousing them with kerosene.

The Barke police are investigating the case.


link to report : http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=36025&n_tit=Mangalore%3A%20Boys%20Hostel%20Ransacked%20-%20Revenge%20for%20Ragging%20Suspected

Delhi Underground

Delhi Underground

New Delhi, July 22: Money matters
The DDA decided to celebrate its golden jubilee year in style and promised all its employees an extra month’s salary. However, what should have been a reason for jubilation among employees has become a bone of contention between the management and the DDA staff. DDA’s accounts department has made it clear that housing rent allowance would be deducted from the salary for the additional month. Needless to say, employees are united in demanding the entire bonus salary. Now the ball is in the DDA top brass’ court, who will decide how much of a celebration bonus the staff members are entitled to.

Painting Burari blue
Burari has turned into a “Blueline town” as hundreds of bus drivers are queuing up there to get their buses serviced before they hit Delhi roads again. The drivers, helpers and bus owners have, in fact, outnumbered the small population of the area. While the local residents are complaining of jammed roads and rude behaviour, a local liquor agent is making merry. The weekend began with a brisk business of more than Rs one lakh on Friday night. And as the Bluelines wait for their turn, the party seems to have just started.

Seniors’ ragging scare
Freshers’ Day at Delhi University this year was not much fun, if ‘fuchchas’ are to be believed. They dressed up in their best attire and contrary to popular perception, wished to be “ragged’”. However, all they got was silence and at best, a few roses at their college gates. On Day 2, Ramjas college principal, who is also on the Supreme Court-appointed panel on ragging, suspended six students for ragging. While one of them has been rusticated, five have been reinstated. But the incident has left many seniors scared. As one of the students put it: “How do you define ragging? If normal interaction can also be branded as ragging, we are too scared to even say hi to freshers.”

Lobbying in the dark
Bureaucrats eyeing Delhi’s most coveted post may have to wait longer than expected. Grapevine is abuzz with speculation that Chief Secretary R Narainswamy may just get an extension. The reason: the Central Government is looking into the possibility of extending the tenure of all secretary-level officers to a minimum of two years. Narainswamy was due to retire this November, after one and a half years in office. If government officials are to be believed, it is likely that he will now get an additional six months tenure, bringing to an abrupt halt all the lobbying that was under way for the position.

Lucky father
Even as a couple of Delhi Police officers are packing their bags for their stint out of Delhi, one man has managed to stay back. Satish Chandra was recently promoted from Joint Commissioner (Headquarters) to Special Commissioner. However, unlike his colleague Ranjeet Narayan, who had to leave for Andamans soon after promotion, Chandra is continuing in Delhi. Corridors of PHQ are abuzz with rumour that Chandra’s bureaucrat son used his connections in the Home Ministry to arrange a Delhi posting for Chandra. His portfolio, however, is yet to be decided.

Nature-lover Sheila
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit’s climate concern cannot be debated. At a function to boost tree plantation in the Capital, the CM began by explaining in detail the threat of fast melting glaciers and the need for more green cover for rainfall. She went on to talk about the friendly sparrows, which have practically disappeared from the city due to the receding greens. She added that crows and mynahs seem to be the only birds left. Her parting message to the bureaucrats and employees: “Let’s revive the greenery to bring back the birds.” Looks like the ‘green Capital’ has a nature lover at the helm of affairs.

All hype, no news
Absence of a press-room at Patiala House has often given rise to comic situations, particularly when reporters track down stories as they occur. Earlier this week, the word spread when a particular eminent advocate appeared with his entourage at the district court, away from his usual Supreme Court haunt. Reporters were all expecting a high-profile story. But what, exactly? Frantic speculation among itinerant reporters finally led to a trace: the gentleman had dropped in to access registry records of an old civil case. Another red herring. If only they had media announcements, since Patiala House appears to be upgrading now.

link to report : http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=247164

Nagarjuna University suspends four girls for ragging

Nagarjuna University suspends four girls for ragging
Updated: 07-21-2007

HYDERABAD :Acharya Nagarjuna University suspended four post-graduate students from University College and hostel for alleged involvement in ragging a first semester student of M.A. (Economics).

According to the victim’s contention the three seniors, inmates of the women’s hostel, had forcibly asked her to sing and dance in front of a large gathering in the hostel on July 18.
Disturbed psychologically, she got treated in the Government General Hospital here and complained to the College Principal M.K. Durga Prasad, who in turn took the matter to the Anti-Ragging Committee.
The Committee decided to hand down a punishment to the four inmates of suspension of one week from the college and hostel for a week with a condition that they would rejoin in the presence of their parents after giving an undertaking that would not repeat such acts and that they could lose seat in the university if they repeat such practice.

link to report : http://andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=25401

AASU forms cells to curb ragging

AASU forms cells to curb ragging
By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, July 17 – Taking a firm stand against ragging in colleges and hostels, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) today formed an anti-ragging cell for monitoring the unsavoury situations and harassments that newcomers are made to face in the name of ragging. Any victim of ragging will be able to lodge a complaint before the cell.

“Ragging is against the norms of any civilized society, and must be totally eradicated. Inflicting mental and physical torture on the newcomers betrays a diseased mind, and cannot be accepted under any circumstances,” the AASU said in a statement.

Pointing out that even the Supreme Court of India had to intervene in the matter due to wide prevalence of ragging, the AASU said that it appealed to the heads of all educational institutions to take strict measures to curb the menace. “The AASU will extend full support to institutions that take strict action on those guilty of ragging,” it said. The AASU will soon convene a meeting of union bodies of all colleges and other educational institutions of the city and chalk out a plan of action for eradicating the evil. “Ragging has even forced many students to lose valuable academic years, and in extreme cases there have been instances of suicide.

Urging the newcomers to contact the cells without hesitation over any incident of ragging, the AASU said that it had instructed all its units to be on guard against ragging.

Hailing the recent steps initiated by the Dibrugarh University authorities to check ragging, the AASU said that other institutions would do well to emulate the exercise.

link to report :http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jul1807/at05

Ramjas student rusticated for ragging

Ramjas student rusticated for ragging

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: Determined to curb the menace of ragging, Delhi University’s Ramjas College on Thursday rusticated a second-year student for a month for being involved in ragging.

Manoj Kumar Gautam has been rusticated and his entry to the college has been banned till August 17, announced college Principal Rajender Prasad. Six students had been suspended on Wednesday after they were caught by the anti-ragging squad of the college and were asked to get their parents to the college on Thursday.

“Only Manoj got his father to the college today. He confessed to being involved in a form of ragging, so he was rusticated. The suspension of others will continue till the time they bring their parents to the college. They wanted some time and they have been given 12 days,” said Dr. Prasad.

Meanwhile, Hindu College has also banned the entry of a former student who was involved in ragging.

link to report : http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/20/stories/2007072053830400.htm

Six 'suspended' for ragging at Ramjas

Six 'suspended' for ragging at Ramjas

NEW DELHI: Six students at Ramjas College have been suspended till Thursday afternoon after they were caught ragging four freshers inside a classroom by the anti-ragging squad.

"A group of second year students pursuing B Sc (Life Sciences) was caught ragging four freshers inside the closed doors of a classroom by anti-ragging squad," said Principal Rajendra Prasad.

He added: "When they barged in the classroom, they found freshers being harassed by seniors. We have suspended all six of them till our meeting with their parents on Thursday noon. After discussing the matter with them, we will take necessary action."

College sources said that freshers were forced to introduce themselves, to which they were not comfortable. This same group of seniors was said to have received warning from the college officials half an hour before the incident took place, as they were caught playing pranks on fuchchas earlier. Wednesday was the first day when the classes for the second and third year students resumed in the new academic session.

Meanwhile, a group of seniors in English department enjoyed a playful interaction with freshers and without inviting the ire of authorities. ‘‘We had a fun time with them but didn’t force them to be part of it,’’ said Samridhhi, a third year student.

In Hindu College, ex-student Abhishek Chaudhry was caught ragging one of the freshers in the canteen on Tuesday has been banned from entering the premises. Chaudhry, apparently, asked the fresher to dance which the latter refused to do. The local police station has been intimated about the action taken against Chaudhry. But both the seniors and freshers of the college term the action as harsh.

"Banning the entry of a student for asking a fresher sing or dance is not healthy. If ragging was offensive, this action would have been justified," said Aman, a second year student of the college.

Added a third year B Sc (Physical Sciences) student Sagar Srivastava: "Introduction should be allowed with the freshers as they also need to know the seniors."

A group of freshers also echoed a similar view. "Asking to sing or dance is a process of personal introduction, which is healthy. We need the academic guidance of the seniors too. So Chaudhry should not have been banned entry into the college," said Rohitesh Kumar and Anshuman Ashit, first year students pursuing Physics (Honours).

Other colleges like Kirori Mal, Hans Raj, SGTB Khalsa, Sri Venkateswara, among others haven’t found anyone guilty of ragging freshers.

link to report : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Delhi/Six_suspended_for_ragging_at_Ramjas/articleshow/2215633.cms

AASU forms cell to curb ragging

AASU forms cell to curb ragging

Guwahati: The All Assam Students Union (AASU), a student organization of the state has formed an anti-ragging cell to save fresh students from ragging at the beginning of new academic year. The students' body has asked the fresh students of all educational institutions in the state to contact its anti-ragging cell in any incident of ragging.

"Ragging is against the norms of any civilized society, and must be totally eradicated. Inflicting mental and physical torture on newcomers reflects a diseased mind, and cannot be accepted under any circumstances," the AASU said in a statement.

The AASU has directed all its units in different educational institutions to remain guard against ragging. The student's body has also appealed to heads of all educational institutions in the state to take all possible measures to curb the menace.

link to report : http://www.indiaedunews.net/Assam/AASU%5Fforms%5Fcell%5Fto%5Fcurb%5Fragging%5F1618/