The tragic death of a 19-year-old student from Government College, Dharamshala, has led to a formal police complaint against a professor and three female students. The case, which involves serious allegations of ragging and sexual harassment, is now under detailed investigation by the Kangra police.
Allegations of Harassment and the Final Days
According to the complaint filed by the victim's father, the ordeal began on September 18 last year. He alleged that three female students from the college beat and harassed his daughter during a ragging session. The harassment was severe, with one student reportedly hitting her with a bottle and cutting her hair. The father stated that the incident left his daughter deeply traumatized. "She kept saying she did not want to go to college as the students would kill her," he claimed in his police complaint.
Fearing for her safety, the family enrolled her in a private computer academy on September 20. Despite this change, her health deteriorated. "I took her to a doctor in Dharamshala, and later shifted her to several hospitals," her father recounted. The young woman was treated at a total of seven hospitals before she ultimately passed away at a hospital in Ludhiana on December 26.
Police Investigation and Video Evidence
Kangra Superintendent of Police Ashok Ratan confirmed that an FIR was registered on Thursday. The accused professor and the three female students have been charged under several sections of the law:
- Section 75 (sexual harassment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Section 115(2) (causing hurt) of the BNS
- Section 3(5) (common intention) of the BNS
- Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009
SP Ashok Ratan stated that the police are obtaining treatment records from all seven hospitals to determine the exact cause of death. "Many allegations were levelled, and we are verifying all the facts. A thorough inquiry will be conducted in this case," he assured.
Adding a disturbing layer to the case is a video believed to be the student's last recorded statement, shot at a hospital in Pathankot. In the video, the visibly distressed student nods and says "Yes" when repeatedly asked if the professor had touched her inappropriately.
Broader Implications and Official Response
This incident has sent shockwaves through the community and raised urgent questions about the enforcement of anti-ragging laws and the safety of students in educational institutions. The police have vowed a comprehensive probe into the actions of the named professor and students.
The case underscores a persistent and grave issue of ragging and sexual harassment in colleges. Authorities are now under pressure to ensure a transparent and swift investigation to deliver justice for the victim and her grieving family. The outcome of this probe is likely to have significant repercussions for campus safety protocols across the state.
