Police are yet to arrest the students accused in the ragging case at Birsa Agriculture University (BAU). The incident came as a shock on Sunday, where a first year student, Gautam Kumar lodged an FIR against his five seniors who even instigated him to commit suicide. Sources said that all the five students involved in the crime are absconding and the hostel warden has sealed their rooms until further orders from university administration. Police are moving the investigation in various directions and enquiring the batch-mates of Gautam Kumar, who according to them can be the partners in the crime.
“The investigation is on. Police officials have not arrested anyone in this case. The complainant has lodged an FIR against his five seniors but even his batchmates are under the police radar. The team is investigating on different angles. Soon all the culprits will be arrested,” said, Rural SP, Rajkumar lakra.
Though the security at BAU have been beefed up but unfortunately, the anti ragging cell constituted under the guidelines of Supreme Court (SC) and University Grant Commission (UGC) norms is not actively delivering its services at college.
According to the university officials, anti ragging cell on campus premises exists but it is not functional on regular basis. Unable to defend its position and citing an excuse, Dean Student Welfare of BAU, NK Rai, added, “The university is following all the guidelines, however the staffs cannot be at university every time to deal with the student grievances.”
Notably, when enquired about the present status of anti ragging cell unit on campus, Rai was unable to give the exact date, anti ragging helpline number or even the total of number of members in the anti ragging cell at present. However, he claimed that the varsity conducts regular counseling sessions for the students at a regular interval but was not sure about any grievances registered by any UG or PG students with the university by far.
Majority of institutions and State owned universities are not following the guidelines to set up anti ragging cells. Ranchi University that has a total student intake of approximately 90,000 students from its affiliated colleges and is the biggest State-owned varsity does not have full-fledged anti-ragging cell to address any such major issue.
“There is an anti ragging cell for students but is not functioning in full-fledged way. On the other hand, all these units are more required at places that have the provision of hostels. So far we have not received any such case from day scholars at our university,” said and RU official requesting anonymity.
Even though, the cell is active at Ranchi Women’s College but several cases at the college go unreported here as well. “So far, we have just received two cases of ragging cum misbehavior since 2001, the day the cell came into existence. However, for student’s convenience helpline number are displayed on campus,” said, Principal, Ranchi Women’s College, Dr. Manju Sinha.