New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Tuesday that the death of a student due to alleged ragging in Kolkata’s prestigious Jadavpur University had opened the government’s eyes.
Banerjee said the state will soon start a helpline to counter ragging in education institutions.
Apart from this, the government has also formed a four-member committee to look into the circumstances that led to the death of first-year student Swapnadeep Kundu on 9 August, including “administrative lapses and infrastructure gaps”.
Kundu died after falling from the third-floor balcony of the university’s main hostel that night, allegedly after being subjected to intense ragging and sexual harassment.
Two hours before he died, Kundu had allegedly called his mother in Nadia’s Bagula, saying he was “very scared” and wanted to go home.
The police have arrested twelve people in connection with the death, among whom are students who had graduated but were still living in the hostel.
Meanwhile, The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought a third report from the university’s administration on the case, after dismissing the first as “generic” and the second as “unsatisfactory”.
UGC Chairman M. Jagadesh Kumar said Monday that the statutory body would seek a third explanation on details of action taken.
“Ragging is a serious issue and Jadavpur University must follow UGC regulations in letter and spirit to provide a safe environment for students,” Kumar said.
UGC said university’s reports lacked “specific details” on the steps taken by the varsity to curb cases of harassment and ragging.