Professor and Three Students Booked in Dharamshala College Student's Death Over Ragging and Sexual Harassment Allegations

Police in Himachal Pradesh's Dharamshala have registered a case against a college professor and three female students on charges of ragging and sexual assault following the death of a second-year student who allegedly endured severe harassment.

The victim, a student at Government Degree College in Dharamshala, recorded a video on her mobile phone before her death, in which she described her traumatic experiences. She accused the professor of inappropriate touching and detailed multiple incidents of mental and sexual harassment both in the classroom and on campus. She also claimed that the accused threatened her when she raised objections.

In a formal complaint, the deceased student's father alleged that on September 18, three fellow female students—named Harshita, Akriti, and Komolika—physically assaulted his daughter during a brutal ragging incident and warned her against speaking out. The complaint further named Professor Ashok Kumar as an accused, alleging his indecent conduct and ongoing mental torment caused immense stress, leading to a steady decline in his daughter's health.

The family stated that the student received treatment at several hospitals before passing away on December 26 while undergoing care at DMC Hospital in Ludhiana. They explained that the delay in lodging a complaint stemmed from the profound grief and shock following her death. The decision to approach authorities came after discovering the video she had recorded, outlining her ordeal.

The father mentioned that he had submitted complaints to the police and the chief minister's helpline on December 20, but received no immediate response.

Authorities have filed an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009, according to police officer Ashok Rattan. Initially focused on the ragging allegations from the December 20 complaint, the investigation has now broadened to include the claims against the professor. Officials plan to review medical records from all hospitals where the student was treated.

The college administration has maintained distance from the matter, stating that the student had failed her first-year exams but was still admitted to the second year. Principal Rakesh Pathania noted that no prior complaint had been lodged with the institution regarding the allegations.

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