Ragged to death: 4 arrested,principal sacked

Aman,an alumnus of DPS International,Delhi and a resident of Gurgaon,had died on Sunday night in a hospital in Tanda due to severe injuries. His family alleged that he was slapped,punched and kicked many times on the head and chest by his seniors who also shaved off his head.

Taking serious note of the incident,the state government ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and promised stern action against the guilty. College principal Suresh Sankhayan was also replaced by Anil Chauhan,Head of Department of Opthalmology.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal sought a detailed report on the incident from college authorities which suspended a hostel warden,manager and two guards.

While two second year students Ajay Kumar Verma and Naveen Verma,who were arrested on Monday,were remanded to police custody till March 13 by District and Sessions judge P S Rana,Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma surrendered today and were sent to police custody till March 16.

A case has been registered against them under section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) with Kangra police station,Superintendent of Police of Kangra district Atul Kumar Fulzule said.

They have been also booked under the anti-ragging ordinance.

The magisterial inquiry will look in detail the cause of death of the student Aman Kachroo and also fix role and responsibility of the involved people in the unfortunate incident,Health Minister Rajeev Bindal said.

As a precautionary measure,a police team comprising an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI),two head constables and 25 constables has been deployed on the college premises. Classes,which were suspended on Monday in the wake of Aman’s death,however,resumed on Tuesday.

In Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi,a shocked family of the student,who was cremated at the Lodhi Crematorium in the national capital,said the boy was subjected to immense violence and demanded action against the medical college.

Rohit Kachroo,his uncle,said Aman had told his parents about the ragging in the institute. “He had told his parents about the ragging. We did not think,it will turn this violent,” he said.

“I spoke to him last Thursday only. He told me that he lodged a complaint with the house warden. No action was taken,” claimed a friend of Aman.

“He told me seniors used to call him up at around 3 AM or 4 AM and would even ask him to get alcohol from market and if he didn’t they would beat him up,” he claimed.

Virkein Dhar,a cousin of the victim,claimed Aman was tortured for over two hours along with other juniors after the four seniors managed to get inside the hostel after bribing the guard.

Condemning the ragging incident,Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said “killing (of the student) is something really not acceptable. Strong anti-ragging measures should be taken and whoever is responsible should be punished”.

The Supreme Court had in 2007 directed educational institutions to register criminal cases against those indulging in ragging activities.