More charges against students,arrest likely

Police inspector Maya Bankar said they had filed a non-cognisable offence earlier,but filed the additional charges after receiving the report of the college committee. “The college has conveyed to us that the students had committed a serious offence… We have summoned them for investigation on Monday. We will question them and then take appropriate action.” Asked if they will be arrested,she said,“We will arrest them,but before that we need to investigate them.”

BR Ulmekh,principal and associate dean,CoAP,said,“After our college committee reported that the allegations were well founded,we forwarded the committee report and the complaint from the first-year students to the police.”

The college,however,is not going to take any drastic action against the students immediately. “Even if the police arrest them,we will have to follow a procedure. We have an anti-ragging committee in place. We will initiate action only after it investigates the matter and gives its recommendations.” The committee,among others,comprises police officials,teachers and NGOs.

Ulmekh refuted the allegation that he and his staff were inaccessible to students leading to the current turmoil. “It’s wrong to say that we had been inaccessible to them. We have regular interaction with students. We have monitors and a rector who take regular rounds of hostels. We also have put in place a helpline. Despite all these, the incident happened,which is unfortunate.” He said every student had a counsellor who interacted with him/her on a regular basis. “If not me,the students should have at least told the cousellors about the harassment.”.

The principal also said the college had acted the moment it received the complaint. “We asked the students to give a written complaint,which is an important documentary evidence as per the UGC norms. I wanted to take a balanced view,so we heard the students and then decided to take action. Now,it is for the police to take action. Let the law take its course.”

He said the college and hostel were closed for semester-end holidays now. “We will decide on further action after the college reopens on December 1.”

He said eight of the nine students belong to the college. “The ninth student has registered himself this year,but has not taken admission.”