Police in Himachal Pradesh have registered a case against four female students for ragging and a professor for alleged sexual harassment, following the death of a 19-year-old college student. The victim, a second-year BA student belonging to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, passed away at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) in Ludhiana on December 26, 2025. An FIR was lodged at the Dharamshala police station on Thursday based on a complaint filed by her father.
Chronology of Allegations and Institutional Failure
The father's complaint details a harrowing sequence of events. He alleges that on September 18, 2025, his daughter was harassed and assaulted by three senior students. Separately, he accuses a professor of the government college in Dharamshala of indulging in obscene acts with her. The cumulative trauma, the complaint states, caused severe mental stress and fear in the victim, leading to a rapid deterioration in her health and subsequent hospitalization.
The family claims they had approached the college administration earlier to report the ragging but no action was taken. "The FIR was registered only after we lodged a complaint through the CM Helpline following my daughter's death," the father said. He explained that a police complaint could not be filed sooner as the family was entirely focused on the daughter's treatment and she was too traumatized.
Police Investigation and Legal Framework
Kangra Superintendent of Police Ashok Rattan confirmed the registration of the FIR. The case has been filed under Sections 75 (sexual harassment), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009.
"It would be premature to draw any conclusions without an in-depth investigation," SP Rattan stated. He clarified that an earlier complaint made via the Anti-Ragging Helpline did not contain allegations of sexual harassment, which were included in the fresh complaint. The police were also not informed about the victim's death or her cremation on December 27.
Investigations so far reveal that the victim had enrolled in the college in 2024. After allegedly facing ragging, she stopped attending classes when she failed her BA first-year exams in July 2025. Her name was struck off the rolls on August 21, 2025. She reportedly visited the college again in September seeking admission, where she was told she could join the second year only if she cleared re-evaluation.
Key Evidence and Political Reactions
Critical to the case are two videos, purportedly recorded by the student before her death, which have been circulated on social media. In these videos, the victim accuses the professor of indecent acts, mental harassment, and intimidation when she protested. The victim's father has submitted these videos to the police, who are examining them along with medical records and witness statements.
The accused professor has denied all allegations. He told The Indian Express that he taught the victim in her first year and met her only once afterwards when she sought permission to attend second-year classes. "We advised her to follow the rules. She was told if she cleared the re-evaluation, she would be allowed to attend classes," he said.
The case has triggered significant political reactions. BJP senior leader and Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, demanded a high-level, impartial probe, alleging negligence by the police and administration. "Allegations of negligence... have raised serious questions on the functioning of the Congress government," Thakur said.
In a related development, a CPI(M) delegation led by state secretary Sanjay Chauhan submitted a memorandum to the Director General of Police, demanding a fair investigation by a senior officer. Chauhan emphasized the need to probe any potential link to caste-based discrimination, noting the victim's SC background. Two of the four accused women students are also from the SC community, while one belongs to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community. The professor is from the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
"The incident took place in September, but the FIR was registered only after the death of the victim. Why was there a delay of over three months?" Chauhan questioned, urging a thorough investigation into all aspects, especially to rule out atrocities against the SC community.
