New Delhi: Kirori Mal College in Delhi University on Monday rusticated two students for ragging their juniors, and what followed was a day of protests with various third year students demanding justice.
However, with the move, the college has made it clear that it will not tolerate ragging in any form.
Seniors say no proper enquiry was done and action was taken based on the version of the victim, who complained to the hostel warden that he was ragged.
"The committee did not hear my side of the story. They are just believing that first year student," said Mohammad Hani, an accused.
But college authorities defend the punishment, saying it was necessary to curb the unhealthy practice of ragging, especially when the matter has been reported.
"There are several such cases that happen in the university but go unnoticed. I have to believe the victim, not the third year students who repeat such behaviour every year," said Bheemsen, principal, KMC.
The last time a ragging incident came to light on DU campus was in 2007, when a first-year student at St Stephen's received burns after some of his seniors sprayed deodorant on him and lit a match. Since then, Delhi University authorities promised to come down hard on ragging.
There are several such posters strewn all across the Delhi University, and this is just the second ragging incident to be reported from the campus in two years. But the authorities are planning to keep a stronghold and in this case have decided to ignore the accused version and side with the victim.