‘Ragging, molestation’ on campus: Seniors beat, push Jadavpur University students out of hostel for lodging complaint

In their complaint, while identifying the students who allegedly beat them up, the two have said the incident took place in front of the hostel super. Eight senior students, including the assistant general secretary of Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students Union (FETSU), have been named in the complaint.

Hossain claimed that earlier as well, he had complained to the dean of students and hostel superintendent, but no action was taken. He said they were being ragged and had tried to prevent the new students from getting ragged inside the hostel two weeks ago after which they were beaten up on Thursday.

“We were trying to prevent the new students from being ragged. We intended to raise awareness against the ragging culture in the hostel and had recorded statements of first-year students, who had been ragged. But the seniors intervened and asked us to delete the recordings. When we refused, they beat us up and drove us out of the hostel,” Hossain said.

He added that he had accompanied the student who was allegedly molested to the police station and filed a complaint. “Since then, seniors were putting pressure on us to withdraw the complaint,” said Hossain.

When contacted, Jadavpur University Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das, admitted that earlier as well, a similar complaint was received by the JU authorities. “I have asked the dean of students to meet me. Today’s complaint letter will be forwarded to the committees concerned and based on what they report, action will be taken against offenders,” he said.

The university’s dean of students, Dr Rajat Ray, said a probe has been initiated into the complaint. “We have an anti-ragging squad, which is investigating the incident. Action will be taken on the complaint as per the rules and regulations,” he added.