Kolkata Police Intensify Probe into Alleged Ragging and Assault at Techno India Campus
In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves through the academic community, Kolkata police are actively investigating a severe case of alleged ragging and physical assault involving a first-year student at Techno India University's main campus in Salt Lake Sector V. Authorities have taken decisive steps by requisitioning critical CCTV footage from the campus gate and the CK-CL ground in Salt Lake, where the majority of the assault is reported to have occurred.
Arrest Made and Search for Absconding Accused Underway
Law enforcement officials have arrested one individual, Ashmit Shaw, who is alleged to have led the assault. Currently, police are interrogating Shaw and intensifying efforts to locate two other FIR-named accused, Rohit Singh and Aditya Singh, along with three additional individuals whom the victim could not identify. A senior officer from the Bidhannagar City Police confirmed, "The two youths are still absconding, and we are diligently searching for them."
Details of the Harrowing Assault Emerge
The case came to light after a first-year diploma engineering student, Santosh Kumar, filed a complaint on April 17, following an incident on April 16. Kumar, who hails from Bokaro in Jharkhand and resides alone in Kestopur for his studies, described a year-long ordeal of torture by the accused, which even caused him to miss an entire academic year. On the day of the assault, he was intercepted near Gate 6 of the campus by a group of students, including two second-year BCA students named in the FIR.
Kumar recounted being whipped approximately 20 times with a belt and suffering cigarette burns on his right bicep. The violence escalated when he was taken to the CK-CL ground outside the campus, where 8-9 youths allegedly beat him mercilessly. In a further act of cruelty, the assailants transferred Rs 430 from his UPI account to their bank account, used the money to purchase cigarettes, and then burned his hand with those same cigarettes. Kumar was also threatened with death if he failed to pay Rs 1 lakh to the group.
University Response and Zero-Tolerance Policy
In response to the allegations, Techno India University registrar Sujoy Biswas stated that no formal complaint has been received from the student regarding the incident. "No such complaints have been reported to the authorities yet. Although we have both anti-ragging and disciplinary committees, neither has received any formal grievance," he explained. University officials emphasized that the assault location mentioned by the student is outside the college premises and highlighted their proactive approach: "The police did not contact us initially, but we reached out to them first to understand the matter. If a formal complaint is submitted, we will take immediate action, as we maintain a strict policy of zero tolerance against ragging."
This case underscores ongoing concerns about ragging in educational institutions and the critical need for robust preventive measures. The police investigation continues as they piece together evidence from CCTV footage and witness statements to ensure justice for the victim.
