NEHU ragging case: Anti-ragging panel to take proactive steps; culprits not identified yet

DIMAPUR — No breakthrough has been made in identifying the individuals responsible for the alleged ragging of a first-semester student from Nagaland at Arbella Boys’ Hostel in Chasingre, Tura, on October 8.

This was apprised during a meeting convened by the Anti-Ragging Committee of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Friday, to discuss the alleged ragging incident at the NEHU Tura Campus.

The victim, who was enrolled in the department of Agri-Business Management at the varsity’s Tura campus, has filed an FIR after returning to his home state Nagaland.

As per the press release issued by the PRO of NEHU, the anti-ragging committee took stock of several key initiatives and inquiries that have been launched in response to the incident. Presiding over the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor, who is also the chairman of the committee, briefed the house about the progress of the case, saying that the Naga elders and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as the Inquiry Committee, have submitted their respective reports but the culprits have not been identified yet.

Prof. R. L. Nongkhlaw, Dean of Students’ Welfare, updated during the meeting that the committee has made efforts to reach out to the victim through his relatives and family but was unsuccessful as the family of the student had refused to allow the panel to meet him, according to the press release.

He added that “he had discussed the possibility of transferring the victim’s admission to another academic course, which the university is willing to facilitate,” but the victim “indicated that he does not wish to pursue any academic courses during this session”.

The update went on to say that Dr. P. Khongji, the Proctor, provided information about the committee’s visit to the Tura Campus and shared updates on the ongoing interrogations of students and the warden by the local police team.

In response to the ongoing situation, the Anti-Ragging Committee resolved to take the following proactive steps to address the issue:

* The committee will write to the Director-General of Police, Chief Secretary, and the Superintendent of Police in Tura, urging them to expedite the investigation, emphasizing that the prolonged uncertainty is adversely affecting the academic atmosphere at the University.

* A formal letter will be sent to the Campus Director of Tura Campus, indicating that if the culprits are not identified soon, the University may need to consider collective punitive measures in accordance with the relevant clauses under the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.

* The hostel in-charges and other relevant officials will be asked to provide a detailed report explaining any lapses in the delay in filing the first information report (FIR) related to the incident.

* The committee proposed the constitution of a four-member committee, including external members, to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged ragging incident.

* The University will explore the possibility of requesting Naga elders to facilitate obtaining the victim’s statement, with the victim’s consent, in an effort to identify the culprits responsible for the incident.

* It was decided that a follow-up meeting will be scheduled two weeks from now to review the progress of the case and any further developments.

“The NEHU Anti-Ragging Committee remains committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all students and will continue to work diligently to address this serious matter. The University urges anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation,” read the press release.

Also read: NEHU ragging case: No headway in probe even after 6 days