Delhi student 'ragged' in Goa

Sandesh Prabhudesai
31 July 2001  

A Delhi-based teenager has been subjected to torturous ragging in Goa, compelling him to leave studies at the national level institute located here and flee back home.

Taking serious note of second such incident that has come to light in the state in last one month, chief minister has ordered the police to take sternest action possible against the 'seniors', after investigations.

Though Porvorim police have started investigating into it after principal of the Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology has forwarded a complaint received from the mother of Shailender Agarwal from Delhi, identity of the accused 'seniors' is still unknown.

According to a written complaint filed by Kamala Agarwal, a widow from Delhi, her son was taken to a lonely place by four boys and two girls on 20 July and was fully undressed in front of the girls while also pushing cigarette stuffed with drugs into his mouth.

The boy fell unconscious when taken back to his hostel room and fled back to Delhi as he was 'ordered' to come back to them on 23 July with money for them and his head shaven clean. He was also threatened of serious consequences if he tries to find out their names.

"The brilliant career of my son, who secured 77 per cent in senior secondary examination, is ruined due to lust for ragging of the lions and jackals", states Ms Agarwal in her letter, adding further that Shailender is presently in trauma and not willing to utter a single word.

The police have now summoned Shailender and his mother to identify the culprits, while filing a case against unknown students for wrongful confinement, dishonouring a person, assault and criminal intimidation with common intention, under sections 342, 355, 323 and 506 of IPC.

Having a strength of over 600 students from all over India in the institute, its principal Roque D'Cruz says the students involved in such incidents are mainly from outside Goa, who make people from their own region victims of it. "We have taken stern action against such elements even in the past", he informs.

While police investigations are held up for lack of evidence, the principal has already conducted inquiry in this regard, forwarding the report to the police. "The incident took place outside our premises, but we have done the best possible things", states D'Cruz.

Meanwhile, the BJP government last week rejected the anti-ragging bill brought in the House by Jitendra Deshprabhu, a Congress legislator, stating that provisions in the existing laws are strong enough to punish a person involved in ragging.

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