High drama after 2 boys suspended
The college’s inquiry panel suspended PG students Nirav Patel and Dhrumil Patel after freshers complained against them on Tuesday. Angry PG students initially threatened strike if the boys were not reinstated, but had to budge after college remained adamant
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, September 18, 2013 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013091820130918024218484658526ac/High-drama-after-2-boys-suspended.html
Angry PG students occupied the lobby outside dean's chamber, demanding Nirav and Dhrumil be reinstated
A day after Mirror carried a report on rampant ragging at BJ Medical College boys’ hostel, two postgraduate students were suspended and an inquiry initiated against them. The move triggered protest by the PG students who blocked the lobby leading to the dean’s chamber, demanding immediate withdrawal of their suspension. The protesting students denied allegations of ragging in the boys’ hostel and claimed that no student was being harassed.
On Tuesday, Mirror had reported that fed up with constant harassment by seniors, a first year student of B J Medical College had reported the matter to University Grants Commission. While the UGC called the college five times and even emailed the complaint to the authorities, Dean Bharat Shah had claimed ignorance about the matter. However, the issue snowballed into a major controversy on Tuesday afternoon after more than 10 freshers told the college’s anti-ragging committee that two PG students, Nirav Patel and Dhrumil Patel, had been torturing them.
While Nirav is a final year MBBS student, Dhrumil is a final year BDS student. According to sources, several other PG students involved in ragging are likely to be suspended. “Every fresher has been ragged by the seniors at least four times till today,” said a first year student on condition of anonymity. Following their statements, the college suspended the duo. As soon as PG students learnt about the decision, they went on a strike, demanding both Nirav and Dhrumil be reinstated. “The senior students even throw stones at girls if they are seen outside the girls’ hostel at night.
They pass vulgar remarks and hurl abuses if we retort,” said a girl student. Hundreds of students occupied the lobby in front of Shah’s office began shouting slogans against him around 3.30 pm. Afraid that the situation might lead to violence on campus, the college authorities called up the cops. Soon, a team of policemen led by DCP Zone 4, AM Munia, reached the campus and held a meeting with the college authorities and student representatives.
College authorities called the cops as students threatened strike
The college officials told the students that any decision will be taken only after the inquiry committee submits the report. But the student representatives were not ready to budge. They conducted a quick discussion in the canteen and came back to the meeting room, insistent that the inquiry committee report be submitted on Tuesday itself. The strike drama went on for four hours.
The students had to finally give in and disperse after the authorities made it clear to them that the suspension will not be withdrawn. They also told the students that the decision of the inquiry panel will be final and binding. Later in the evening, a notice was put up at the D block, where first year students are accommodated, stating that no senior students are allowed entry in the D block.
Also, no fresher is allowed to go out of D Block during the night, the notice stated. A parent of a first year student told Mirror that the notice served no purpose since a rector was on duty in the D Block only till 6 pm. “Nobody monitors the goings-on in the freshers’ block. If they resist ragging, they are beaten up. The seniors huddle together in the rooms of the freshers and do not allow them to study or sleep. Recently, they damaged a student’s belongings. They do not even allow the freshers to talk to their family over the phone. Our children have no security. They should put up CCTV cameras in the hostel so that such incidents can be averted,” she said.
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Wednesday, September 18, 2013 http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013091820130918024218484658526ac/High-drama-after-2-boys-suspended.html
Angry PG students occupied the lobby outside dean's chamber, demanding Nirav and Dhrumil be reinstated
A day after Mirror carried a report on rampant ragging at BJ Medical College boys’ hostel, two postgraduate students were suspended and an inquiry initiated against them. The move triggered protest by the PG students who blocked the lobby leading to the dean’s chamber, demanding immediate withdrawal of their suspension. The protesting students denied allegations of ragging in the boys’ hostel and claimed that no student was being harassed.
On Tuesday, Mirror had reported that fed up with constant harassment by seniors, a first year student of B J Medical College had reported the matter to University Grants Commission. While the UGC called the college five times and even emailed the complaint to the authorities, Dean Bharat Shah had claimed ignorance about the matter. However, the issue snowballed into a major controversy on Tuesday afternoon after more than 10 freshers told the college’s anti-ragging committee that two PG students, Nirav Patel and Dhrumil Patel, had been torturing them.
While Nirav is a final year MBBS student, Dhrumil is a final year BDS student. According to sources, several other PG students involved in ragging are likely to be suspended. “Every fresher has been ragged by the seniors at least four times till today,” said a first year student on condition of anonymity. Following their statements, the college suspended the duo. As soon as PG students learnt about the decision, they went on a strike, demanding both Nirav and Dhrumil be reinstated. “The senior students even throw stones at girls if they are seen outside the girls’ hostel at night.
They pass vulgar remarks and hurl abuses if we retort,” said a girl student. Hundreds of students occupied the lobby in front of Shah’s office began shouting slogans against him around 3.30 pm. Afraid that the situation might lead to violence on campus, the college authorities called up the cops. Soon, a team of policemen led by DCP Zone 4, AM Munia, reached the campus and held a meeting with the college authorities and student representatives.
College authorities called the cops as students threatened strike
The college officials told the students that any decision will be taken only after the inquiry committee submits the report. But the student representatives were not ready to budge. They conducted a quick discussion in the canteen and came back to the meeting room, insistent that the inquiry committee report be submitted on Tuesday itself. The strike drama went on for four hours.
The students had to finally give in and disperse after the authorities made it clear to them that the suspension will not be withdrawn. They also told the students that the decision of the inquiry panel will be final and binding. Later in the evening, a notice was put up at the D block, where first year students are accommodated, stating that no senior students are allowed entry in the D block.
Also, no fresher is allowed to go out of D Block during the night, the notice stated. A parent of a first year student told Mirror that the notice served no purpose since a rector was on duty in the D Block only till 6 pm. “Nobody monitors the goings-on in the freshers’ block. If they resist ragging, they are beaten up. The seniors huddle together in the rooms of the freshers and do not allow them to study or sleep. Recently, they damaged a student’s belongings. They do not even allow the freshers to talk to their family over the phone. Our children have no security. They should put up CCTV cameras in the hostel so that such incidents can be averted,” she said.
