Ragging - Now in Coimbatore

Coimbatore:
Saturday , Apr 11, 2009 at 1253 hrs IST

In another case of brutal ragging, a first year management student was allegedly thrashed and punched in his eyes by five senior students for his refusal to part with Rs 3000 following which the boy's vision was affected.

Though the incident took place a month ago, it came to light only on Friday evening when Akhil Dev, son of novelist Sunil Parameshwaran in Kerala, complained to City Police Commissioner K C Mahali about it.

Akhil, a student of BBM at PSG college of Arts and Science is still undergoing treatment for the injuries, particularly in the eyes, which have been affected after senior students punched his face, police said.

A case has been lodged under the 1997 Anti-Ragging Act against the five students allegedly involved in ragging, police said.

According to the complaint, the incident occurred on the midnight of March 7, when five seniors approached Akhil, who was staying in a private hostel near the college in Peelamedu, and demanded Rs 3000.

When Akhil refused to part with the money, the five asked him lick their boots, which he complied with, the student informed police.

But they did not stop at that and asked him to bend after which they started hitting him. Some of them punched him on his eyes, following which his vision was blurred.

They finally left after pushing him down the stairs. Akhil was admitted to a private hospital by a friend and he later left for Ernakulam.

Police said three teams have been formed to arrest Arjun, Ashwin, Vikas, Sameer and Ajmal, who have been suspended by the college principal Sheela Ramachandran.

This is another case of ragging come to light only lately althought it occurredon 7th March.

The authorities should take the strictest action against the five students including suspension.
This is not only a case of ragging but dacoity since the students were forcibly collecting Rs 3000/- from the first year student.
Any colleagues supporting the culprits should face the same punishment as the five senior students.
We are having a similar problem in Kolkata where a student has been suspended for ragging in Jadavpur University.
His batch-mates are now agitating to condone his crime.
The batch-mates too should be suspended for supporting the culprit.
ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE FOUND RAGGING AND THEIR MENTORS SHOULD BE SUSPENDED IMMEDIATELY THIS YEAR.
FROM NEXT YEAR ANYBODY FOUND RAGGING SHOULD BE RUSTICATED WITHOUT ANY RECOURSE TO ANY COURT SINCE THE SUPREME COURT HAS ASKED TO TAKE STRICT ACTION