Pics: Spoorthi Ullal

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru Jan 22: Nine students have been arrested in connection to a ragging incident that took place at a private college, informed police commissioner N Shashi Kumar.

Addressing media here on Friday January 22, he said, “The arrested students are Jishnu (20), Shrikanta P V (20), Ashwanth (20), Sayanth (22), Abhirath Rajiv (21), Rahul P (21), Jishnu (20), Mukhthar Ali (19) and Mohammed Razeem (20), who are second year and final year students hailing from Kerala.

“The victim, hailing from Kasargod, was a first year student who recently got admitted to the college here. The victim and his batch mate were constantly ragged by nine students. On January 10, the duo was forced to visit the accused’s paying guest accommodation. The victims were asked them to cut their hair, moustache and were also threatened. The seniors beat up the first year student and behaved in an inhuman way.

“It is said that when the victim went to the paying guest accommodation, already four other students were present there who were being ragged by the seniors. Tired of ragging, the victim decided to discontinue his studies and went back to his home town. The victim informed his parents that he will not go to college again. Doubting this behaviour, the parents informed police. During investigation, the ragging issue at the private college came to light in which nine students were arrested.

“Due to ragging, we have seen many students committing suicide. Some students are very sensitive to deal ragging. It is the college management’s responsibility to take care of this issue. There are instances where the college administration has fail to take action stating the reason that it the ragging incident took place at paying guest accommodation which is outside the college. Ragging incidents taking place anywhere is the responsibility of college administration as it their students. When I discussed the issue with the college management, they said that they have not received any complaint. It is the duty of the college to know what is happening in the college as juniors do not come forward to file complaints against the seniors. The college should be zero tolerant in ragging issues and should not neglect their responsibilities,” he said.

DCPs Hariram and Vinay Goankar were present.