Ragged by seniors, polytechnic student ends life

A student of Government Polytechnic allegedly committed suicide in his hostel room on Wednesday evening following harassment in the name of ragging by some senior students. His family members lodged an FIR with the Kalyanpur police station late on Wednesday night accusing two polytechnic students of ragging. The polytechnic administration has constituted an eight-member team to probe into the incident.
According to the FIR, Himanshu Vishwakarma was brutally beaten up by senior students on August 1. Despite a complaint, the principal did not take any action against the accused. Principal FR Khan, however, denied having received any complaint from Himanshu and alleged that his family was lying about ragging.
IG Zone Ashutosh Pandey said several police teams were investigating the matter and added that even the role of principal and other teachers was under investigation.
Senior police official further mentioned that polytechnic students were in a state of shock and unwilling to talk. He said that the accused would be charged under the Anti-Ragging Act.
Another police official said that ragging was prevalent on the campus as some 200 students of a class sported similar haircut.
The polytechnic administration said that Himanshu Vishwakarma (20) was a second-year student of mechanical production and was staying in a boys’ hostel in Lakhanpur area. The principal also feigned ignorance about 200 students having similar hair cut.
According to Himanshu’s elder brother, Vineet Vishwakarma, “Himanshu had narrated his ordeal and spoken about ragging by senior students. Himanshu had lodged a complaint against two students in this regard with principal FR Khan but no action was taken.”
It was on Wednesday evening that hostel owner informed Vineet about the shocking incident. Vineet said Himanshu’s roommate Neeraj Chauhan told him that Himanshu was severely beaten up by the seniors on the campus on Monday.
The incident has raised eyebrows over the administration of the government polytechnic as this is not the first incident of ragging. This is not the first case of ragging on the campus as several times in the past such incident have taken place.