Two students of Odisha's tech university allege ragging by seniors
Two second-year students of the Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology (VSSUT), Burla have brought allegations of ragging against the final year students of the Institute, Vice-Chancellor in-charge BB Pati said on Wednesday. He said that if the allegations are found to be true, stringent action will be initiated against those involved in the incident. Here are more details.
Inquiries are being conducted to check the veracity of allegation
"The disciplinary committee, and the anti-ragging cell of VSSUT, have started inquiries to find out the veracity of the allegation. They will submit a detailed report," Pati said. Sources in the varsity said that the alleged incident took place in a hostel on March 28.
Victims were made to kneel, threatened with dire consequences
According to the complaint, the senior students made the victims kneel and asked them to introduce themselves. They smoked and released the smoke on their faces. They were also asked to answer some questions, which caused mental harassment. The victims also alleged that a final-year student and his friends threatened them with dire consequence if they file any complaint with the authorities.
Earlier, 18 MBBS students were fined for another ragging incident
This incident came to the fore a week after the authorities of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla, imposed a fine of Rs. 54,000 on 18 fourth-year MBBS students for their involvement in a ragging incident. On March 10, the fourth-year MBBS students had verbally abused and mentally harassed second-year students.
VSSUT had witnessed ragging incidents last year as well
Notably, in August 2020, a video showing around 50 students being ragged by seniors had gone viral. The VSSUT authorities had debarred 10 students from appearing for the examination for one year besides slapping a fine of Rs. 2,000 each on 52 other students who were involved in the incident. In February 2020, a first-year student was beaten up by second-year and third-year students.
RFCA had demanded formation of an anti-ragging task force
In February 2020, the Ragging Free Campus Abhiyan (RFCA), a forum working for the welfare of students, demanded the formation of a State-level anti-ragging task force for the prevention of ragging in educational institutes by the Odisha Government, the New Indian Express had reported.
