NEHU urges for speedy investigation into ragging incident at Tura campus

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaNovember 3, 2023

The Anti-Ragging Committee (ARC) of the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) on Friday decided to write to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police urging them to expedite the investigation into the recent ragging incident at the Tura campus of the University.

“The Committee will write to the Director-General of Police, Chief Secretary, and the Superintendent of Police in Tura, urging them to expedite the investigation, emphasizing that the prolonged uncertainty is adversely affecting the academic atmosphere at the University,” NEHU Public Relations Officer Dr Davidson Pyngrope said in a statement.

He said, “A formal letter will be sent to the Campus Director of Tura Campus, indicating that if the culprits are not identified soon, the University may need to consider collective punitive measures in accordance with the relevant clauses under the University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines.”

The ARC has also asked the hostel incharges and other relevant officials to provide a detailed report explaining any lapses in the delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) related to the incident.

It also proposed the constitution of a four-member committee, including external members, to conduct a thorough inquiry into the alleged ragging incident.

“The University will explore the possibility of requesting Naga elders to facilitate obtaining the victim’s statement, with the victim’s consent, in an effort to identify the culprits responsible for the incident,” the PRO said while adding that it was decided that a follow-up meeting will be scheduled two weeks from now to review the progress of the case and any further developments.

During the meeting, Prof RL Nongkhlaw, Dean of Students’ Welfare, updated the committee on the University’s efforts to reach out to the victim through his relatives and family.

Regrettably, the victim’s family has expressed their reluctance to allow NEHU to meet with him regarding this matter.

Dr P Khongji, the Proctor, provided information about the committee’s visit to the Tura Campus and shared updates on the ongoing interrogations of students and the warden conducted by the local police team in Tura.

Additionally, the Dean of Students’ Welfare informed the committee that he had discussed the possibility of transferring the victim’s admission to another academic course, which the University is willing to facilitate. However, the victim has indicated that he does not wish to pursue any academic courses during this session.

Meanwhile, the ARC said it remains committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming environment for all students and will continue to work diligently to address this serious matter.

The University urges anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.