A shocking case of alleged ragging at a private medical college in Maharashtra's Palghar district has sparked campus tension and police action. Authorities have registered a formal case and suspended a hostel warden and a teacher after a first-year student reported being forced to perform Islamic prayers (namaz).
Details of the Alleged Ragging Incident
The incident took place on Sunday night at the institute located in Posheri village of Wada taluka. According to the police complaint, the victim is a first-year physiotherapy student from Nashik. She alleged that while she was on the fifth floor of the hostel, a girl with a covered face stopped her. The accused then allegedly tried to force her to perform namaz and continued to pressure her despite her refusal, leaving the young student terrified.
The victim informed her family the next morning. When the family reportedly received no response from the college management, they approached the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). The right-wing group subsequently staged protests on campus, leading to heightened tension and necessitating police deployment to prevent any disturbance.
Police Investigation and Immediate Actions
Palghar police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Monday night. Superintendent of Police Yatish Deshmukh personally visited the campus to assess the situation. He stated that the case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act.
"We are scanning the CCTV footage and recording statements of other students to identify the accused," SP Deshmukh said, assuring that strict action would be taken against the guilty. In response to public outrage, the college administration took immediate action by suspending a hostel warden and a teacher.
Aftermath and Conflicting Claims
Following the suspensions, VHP activists submitted a written complaint to the police, demanding a high-level probe into the college's functioning. They claimed that similar incidents had occurred on the campus in the past as well. However, a representative of the college management denied these past allegations, stating that no such incident had happened before. The management assured full cooperation with the ongoing police investigation.
To ensure peace and maintain communal harmony in the area, police have maintained a heavy deployment. The preliminary findings of officials suggest the episode may be linked specifically to ragging activities within the hostel premises.
