Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Sep 11: Reportedly, over 20 senior students of pharmacy college at Volachil here had ragged nine junior students, both boys and girls. The matter was later referred to police.
Personnel of the rural police station here, acting on a complaint filed by the principal of the college, arrested one of the students, Ameen Rinshad (18). They are looking for the other accused.
Protest at college on August 28
Lathi charge at police station on September 10
It is said that on August 26, a girl student was led from the class to the canteen where she was forced to sit with boy students before clicking photograph with cellphone. She was also forced to send other girls to the spot where the boys were waiting. Another girl was called, and questioned as to why she does not show respect to senior students. She was made to sit in the college till 6 pm. After sending photograph of a boy to her cellphone, she was pressurized to love this boy, the principal said in his complaint.
"A boy was taken to guest room where he was forced to remove his shirt. Then selfie was clicked and he was harassed. Some more students were taken to paying guest accommodation from the hostel, where they were attacked, and forced to dance and sing. Harassed students complained to college seeking action," the principal claimed, it is learnt.
After coming to know about the complaint, some students of the college prepared to hold protest in favour of the accused students. They also came to police station to complain against the principal and three lecturers. They were supported by Campus Front of India (CFI) activists, it is said. The police resorted to caning to disperse the students who were in large numbers. In this incident, five persons including three policemen were injured.
The injured have been identified as sub-inspector, Sudhakar, head constable, Chandrashekhar, constable, Vincent, CFI activists, Ifaz and Muzamir. The injured were treated at Wenlock Hospital.
The police commissioner said that case has been registered against 25 persons from CFI for gathering in front of rural police station without prior permission on Saturday. He added that complaint against three was recorded pertaining to the incident, one of whom has been arrested. But, four girl students named in principal's complaint had personally stated to the police that they had not been ragged, he stated. He said that their statements would be recorded and they would be produced before the magistrate.
State president of CFI, Muhammed Tufail, alleged that protest was held against penalty, fee, and restriction over Muslim girl students wearing scarves in the college. He said that the principal had conspired to tame the students by forcing junior students to complain, and filed complaint.
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