Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Dec 9:

Acting tough, the Academic Council of the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) today decided to rusticate three students for a period of one year in connection with the incident of ragging of first year students of the Forestry department by senior students.

OUAT ragging

The council also decided to rusticate two students from the varsity’s hostel for a period of one year while imposing a fine of Rs 5,000 each on five students and keeping them under ‘conduct probation’.

Five other students have been kept under ‘conduct probation’.

"In our first meeting on November 24 we decided to conduct an inquiry into the allegations. Later I constituted an inquiry committee under the chairmanship of Dean Students Welfare with  Deans of other faculties, hostel superintendent and student union adviser as members. The inquiry committee submitted a report after interrogating the first year students, accused fourth year students against whom there were allegations, hostel staff, hostel superintendent and assistant hostel superintendent. At the disciplinary board meeting yesterday we recommended some action, which was ratified by the Academic Council of the OUAT today. Out of the 15 students against whom there were allegations, we rusticated three of them for a year from the college; two have been rusticated from the hostel and have been also put under conduct probation; five others have been put under conduct probation and still five others have been put under conduct probation," informed OUAT vice chancellor Manoranjan Kar to reporters after the Academic Council’s meeting.

"Conduct probation means its a stricture on their character and if he or she further involves himself/herself in similar activities will face rustication," said Kar explaining the meaning of 'conduct probation'.

"We have taken action against 15 students which will come into effect immediately," he added.

Notably, 10 to 12 junior students of Forestry department had complained of ragging by senior students on November 24.

Angry junior students had gheraoed the Office of Dean for a while demanding action and lodged an FIR at Khandagiri police station.

In their FIR to the police, some of the boarders of Pathani Samanta Hostel of the university alleged that they were beaten brutally by the seniors on the night of November 19 and two of them were seriously injured in the incident.

However, the university authorities and anti-ragging committee had taken no action irrespective of repeated complaints.