The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday suspended an assistant professor and announced a high-level inquiry following the death of a 19-year-old Dalit student, which has sparked widespread outrage over allegations of sexual harassment, ragging, and caste-based abuse. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has also constituted a separate fact-finding committee into the incident.
Immediate Actions and Suspension
The state's action came hours after Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu promised strict measures. The accused, Assistant Professor (Geography) Ashok Sharma of Government College, Dharamshala in Kangra district, was suspended with immediate effect pending a departmental inquiry. The suspension order was issued by Secretary (Education) Rakesh Kanwar.
"Based on the video statement of the deceased woman in which she had named the professor, the accused professor would be immediately suspended and an inquiry would be initiated against him. Strict action would be taken against all those involved," CM Sukhu told reporters.
Allegations and the Police Investigation
The case was registered on the complaint of the student's father. He alleged that his daughter was beaten by three senior students on September 18, 2025, and that Professor Ashok Sharma indulged in obscene acts with her. The father claimed the trauma led to severe mental stress, deteriorating health, and ultimately her death during treatment at a Ludhiana hospital on December 26.
Kangra police confirmed that a case under section 75 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual harassment was registered against Ashok Sharma. Additionally, three female students were booked under sections 115(2) and 3(5) of BNS and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act 2009.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Kangra, Veer Bahadur, stated that the investigation, led by the Deputy Superintendent of Police in Dharamshala, is actively collecting evidence including medical records, video clips, and witness statements. The police team has also traveled to Ludhiana to obtain complete treatment records.
Multiple Inquiries and National Commission's Intervention
The state government has formed a four-member fact-finding committee headed by Additional Director of Higher Education Harish Kumar. This committee is tasked with submitting a comprehensive report within three days on all aspects, including alleged harassment, sexual assault, ragging, and caste-related comments.
Simultaneously, the UGC set up a five-member fact-finding committee after its Anti-Ragging Helpline registered a suo-motu complaint. A senior UGC official emphasized that student safety is paramount and the culprits will not be spared.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) intervened strongly, calling the case a "serious failure of the security mechanism in educational campuses." The NCW chairperson has directed the Himachal Pradesh DGP to ensure immediate arrest of all accused, a fair and time-bound investigation, and strict action under relevant laws. The Commission has sought a detailed Action Taken Report within five days.
Contested Claims and Protests
In a statement to PTI Videos, the accused professor, Ashok Sharma, who has secured anticipatory bail, denied all allegations. "I do not know why my name was taken. God should take me if I have done wrong," he said. He described himself as a father of two girls and maintained there is zero tolerance for ragging in the college.
Meanwhile, members of the Ambedkar Mahasabha protested in Dharamshala demanding justice. The outfit's state president, Roop Rekha, alleged, "This is not a death from depression, but an attempt to murder," and criticized the police for not acting in time and for not including sections of the SC/ST Act in the FIR.
Police clarified that an initial complaint was received via the CM's Sankalp Seva Helpline, but the student's statement could not be recorded as she was unwell. Preliminary investigation revealed the student, enrolled in BA first year in 2024, had failed her exams, stopped attending college after July 2025 results, and her name was struck off the rolls on August 21, 2025.
