New Delhi (Agency): Indian Institute of Technology-Mandi (IIT Mandi) has taken strong measures against students involved in an alleged ragging incident. The institute suspended 10 students, including three office-bearers of the student body, and initiated disciplinary actions against 62 others for their alleged involvement in ragging junior students during a recent event.
The disciplinary actions taken by the institute vary in severity, with fines ranging from Rs 15,000 to Rs 25,000 and community service hours between 20 to 60 hours. These actions were determined based on the extent of each student’s involvement in the incident.
The alleged ragging incident came to light when first-year students submitted anonymous complaints to the institute authorities. According to reports, during an introductory event, some senior students allegedly shouted at and made the junior students stand in corners. The incident occurred in August, specifically on August 11.
In response to the incident, IIT Mandi issued a statement expressing its commitment to ensuring the safety of all students on campus and preventing any form of harassment. The institute encouraged students to promptly report such incidents to ensure corrective actions are taken and to prevent future occurrences.
Ragging in educational institutions is considered a criminal offense in India, and there are regulations in place to curb this menace. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has implemented regulations to prohibit, prevent, and eliminate ragging in higher educational institutions. These regulations, known as the “Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational Institutions,” have been made mandatory for all universities and institutions.
This incident at IIT Mandi comes in the wake of heightened concerns about ragging in educational institutions, following a tragic incident at Jadavpur University where a 17-year-old student died after falling from a hostel balcony. The student’s family alleged that he was a victim of ragging. A panel set up by Jadavpur University to investigate the incident confirmed severe ragging and recommended punitive actions against those involved in the crime.