Odisha rights body seeks report from 4 departments on anti-ragging steps

Bhubaneswar: Taking note of the allegations of ragging at different educational institutions across the State, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today issued notices to four departments asking them to submit a report within 10 days.

The rights body asked secretaries of Mass Education, Higher Education, Skill Development and Technical Education and Health departments to give details on steps taken to prevent ragging at educational institutions. Also, the OHRC sought replies on why no criminal cases have been lodged against students involved in ragging.

Yesterday, a police complaint was lodged at Sasan police station in Sambalpur town alleging that a Plus II first year student of Vedic International School was ragged by four seniors three days back. Following the ragging incident, the Plus II first year student has been undergoing treatment at a hospital.

In another incident, some B.Tech second year students of VSSUT were ragged by their seniors at Kratu hostel of the university. The video of the incident went viral on social media on August 22.

Later, the technical university authorities formed a disciplinary committee and an anti-ragging committee to probe the matter. Based on the recommendations, the university has taken action against 10 students.