Ragging is a major issue in many colleges across the country. Despite many regulations, the premier institutes like the IITs, NITs, NLUs have always engaged in ragging incidents. In the recent, the Institute of Infrastructure Technology Research and Management (IITRAM), Gujarat has appeared in the headlines for suspending 26 students after they were found harassing junior batches. According to media outlets, the college suspended five students for two semesters and will be barred taking these exams, 16 students for three months for three months and five others for three weeks. All the students put in detention are in the second year and from all three engineering branches—civil, mechanical and electrical. Ragging in Kerala: First Year Student of DC School of Management And Technology Admitted to Hospital, Says 'Was Beaten up For 3 Hours'. 

The seniors severely ragged 150 students studying in the first year at IITRAM. The incident occurred last month, followed by which the institute formed a probe committee. The registrar of IITRAM, NN Bhupatani was quoted in a TOI report as saying, “We received the complaint from the students in September end, after which a 13-member committee was formed to probe into the incident. After completing the investigation, including the checking of CCTV footages and letting the accused students and their parents present their case, the committee has decided to suspend 26 students found to be involved in the ragging incident. The institute authorities had also informed their parents through email in this matter.” Students, Alumni Arrested for Making Junior Strip & Shooting Nude Video at St Paul’s Cathedral Mission College, Kolkata. 

About 160 students were forced to do activities like sit-ups and push-ups, catwalk and were put through interviews where they had to answer obscene and embarrassing questions. The entire process continued for around for hours. The ragging prevention committee also has the copy of the questionnaire as evidence. Bhuptani further said, “We found around 10 hours CCTV footage (different days and time) to substantiate these allegations. The committee tabled the report after Navratri vacation. Based on this report, we suspended students and informed their parents.” School Boys Ragged, Genitals Tied With String at a Vedic School in Parbhani, Director Arrested. 

The college did not treat this an incident of ragging, but a case of harassment and they did not involve the police. At the initial, the probe committee members had learnt that only five students were involved in the ragging. But after examining the CCTV footages, 26 students from the second year were found involved in the ragging.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 26, 2018 10:17 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).