A reportedly serious altercation over “playing of loud music” between an undergrad student and his seniors took an ugly turn. The set of three seniors now stands threatened with expulsion from the Central University of Gujarat in Gandhinagar.
The third-year student, Sunny Kumar, has alleged severe ragging during the February 20 assault. According to the report filed with the University Grants Commission (UGC)’s anti-ragging helpline, “the trio came for his life.”
Kumar, a student of German Studies, has detailed the horror when the three seniors barged into his hostel room. “It was about 1.30 am and I was asleep. I woke up to being hit him with sharp objects on the head, face and stomach. They left me in a pool of blood…” reads the complaint. Kumar, who was rushed to the hospital, received several stitches on his head.
Those familiar with the matter say that Kumar’s prompt reporting of the matter led the varsity to action. Till the matter is being investigated, the three accused, Vishika Zhimomi, Malem Kadran and Manish Rana, have been suspended from campus and academic activities.
In the complaint filed with the CUG, Sunny Kumar stated that the incident took place past midnight on February 20. He further stressed that as the students are his seniors, the physical assault should be treated as ragging.
The victim lives in CUG’s hostel in Sector 20 while the accused in Sector 24, shared officials. Those in know reported that the alleged attack is a result of an earlier brawl between the victim and accused.
“The accused visited the victim’s hostel about 12 days ago. There was a quarrel between them over playing music loud in hostel rooms. This is believed to have been the reason behind the alleged attack,” said an official.
The university formed a committee on February 21 to probe the incident, and after preliminary investigation it pronounced punishment for three accused till the final inquiry report is submitted.
As per the circular issued by the varsity: “Vishika Zhimomi is suspended from hostel accommodation, attending classes, entry to both the campuses (Sector 29 and Sector 30) and other academic privileges, and he is debarred from appearing in the exam. Malem Kadran is debarred from entry in both the campuses as well as the hostel premises and also from accessing facilities of the university and his fellowship will be frozen. Manish Rana is debarred from the hostel accommodation.”
Registrar H.B. Patel added the punishment is to ensure that students do not indulge in ragging of any kind.
He, however, said that the suspension and other punishment are effective till the final report is submitted by the committee probing the incident. After the submission of the final report, the eventual punishment will be awarded to the accused.
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