Jadavpur University Student Death: 'Victim was singled out for severe pre-planned ragging, which included possible sexual abuse' says internal committee report

The internal inquiry committee formed by the authorities of Jadavpur University to probe into the death of the first-year student of the University on August 10, has concluded that the 'victim was singled out for severe pre-planned ragging, which included possible sexual abuse.' The report has flagged the 'planned isolation' of the student and the 'subsequent acts of ragging' as the key factors that led to the death of the fresher.

The internal committee comprises stakeholders from all factions of the University, who have visited the spot of crime, questioned the eyewitnesses, and formed a narrative based on all the circumstantial evidence at their disposal. They have laid out the happenings of that fateful night that may have led to the minor's death. However, the report does not conclusively put a pin on how the boy fell off the second-floor balcony of the A2 block of the Main Boys Hostel of Jadavpur University.

The report put forth by the probe panel states that the boy was put through several phases of ragging since that evening, and it may have included episodes of sexual abuse. The minor was found lying in a pool of his own blood in front of the A2 block, late at night, on August 9, with no clothes on his body. He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries during the wee hours of August 10.

"As it seems, he was singled out for ragging, which was carried out in a systematic planned manner, having deliberately isolating him for severe ragging, while the rest of his batch-mates were far from him attending a hostel general body meeting," read the report submitted by the internal inquiry committee.

The report further stated that during the initial phase of ragging, the 1st year student of the Bengali department had burst into tears after he was made to shout highly objectionable and sexist slurs at the female residents of the adjacent residential complex at around 6:30 in the evening. During the second phase, the boy was made to sign a false complaint, allegedly framed by and in the presence of over a dozen seniors who compelled the minor to oblige to their demands between 9:00 pm and 10:45 pm that night. The letter was addressed to the Dean of Students, complaining about another student in the Bengali department. "After this, the freshers, except the victim, were asked to attend an all-hostellers General Body (GB) meeting which was held at the playground adjacent to A1 block at around 11 pm," read the report, outlining the happenings of the third phase of ragging.

It was during this general body meeting that the minor was heard crying for help, and was seen completely naked and standing in the lobby with two other boarders on the second floor of the A2 Block of the Main Hostel at past 11:30 pm. The students who had rushed to the spot upon hearing the cries for help reported that the victim was trying to enter a room when he was pulled out by a couple of seniors. Following this, the boy reportedly started running along the corridor of the second floor of the A2 block. The happenings that followed, lie in obscurity as the report hasn't conclusively outlined events stating, "Information regarding the subsequent movements, just prior to his fatal fall, is rather uncertain and vague, as none of the witnesses gave a clear-cut description of the incident, which could help in ascertaining the cause and sequence of the mishap.” The probe panel has also stated that the deceased student was also 'possibly severely abused sexually.'

Following the fatal fall from the balcony, the boy was seen 'lying on the road adjacent to the A-2 block in a naked condition in the supine position. At that time the victim was found profusely bleeding from nostrils, ears, and mouth and possibly from the back of the head.' Several students rushed to the spot, covered his lower body with a piece of cloth, and rushed him to the hospital.

A total of 13 students, including current and former students have been arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection to this case.