The University Grants Commission and the National Human Rights Commission have issued notices to the premier Jadavpur University, Bengal Government and the State Director General of Police on the alleged ragging-related suicide case of an undergraduate student.
Swapnadip Kundu a 17-year-old student from Bagula in Nadia district reportedly leapt to his death on the night of August 9. The student was allegedly stripped and made to walk on the thin railings of the second floor. He fell off the parapet and succumbed to his injuries hours later in a private medical hospital where he was rushed to by his tormentors.
Nine residents including two former students of the University hostel have thus far been arrested by the police. The incident took place at the JU Main Hostel situated about a km outside the campus. JU is ranked fourth in the country in terms of performance.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the media reports the NHRC directed the State Chief Secretary to submit a report on the matter within four weeks. A similar notice has also been issued to the State Director General of Police, sources said. Through the notice the Commission has wanted to know the reasons for prima facie failure of the educational institution to take measures preventing ragging inside its campus. The DGP has been directed to make available the details of the criminal case lodged in the case.
The UGC too on Thursday slapped a notice apparently reprimanding University authorities for submitting a "generic" report on the alleged ragging and sexual harassment of a student leading to his death, sources said.
The UGC had directed the University authorities to file a factual and action-taken report within 24 hours on the matter.
Meanwhile, all hell broke loose in front of the JU campus where the ultra-Left student wings showed black flag to State Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari who was leading an anti-ragging procession down the road.
The Left students said that “we were just exercising our democratic rights when the central security forces of Suvendu Adhikari beat us up … following them the BJP goons too attacked us and beat our students … later the police arrested not the culprits but our students who were victims of the attack,” a JU student said. Adhikari was not available for comments.