By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Nov 3: A crucial meeting was convened by NEHU’s anti-ragging committee on Friday to address the recent alleged ragging incident at the Tura campus of the university.
The meeting was presided over by the vice-chancellor who is also the chairman of the committee.
During the meeting, the committee took stock of several key initiatives and inquiries that have been launched in response to the incident.
The chairman briefed about meetings with Naga elders and NGOs, as well as the establishment of an inquiry committee by the university to investigate the incident.
It was also informed that the Naga elders and NGOs, as well as the inquiry committee, have submitted their respective reports, but so far, there has been no breakthrough in identifying the individuals responsible for the alleged ragging.
During the meeting, Prof. R L 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 the 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 by the local police team.
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.
In response to the ongoing situation, the anti-ragging committee resolved to take a series of proactive steps to address the issue.
The committee said that it will write to the director-general of police, chief secretary, and the superintendent of police in Tura, urging them to expedite the investigation.
Further, a formal letter will be sent to the campus director of Tura, 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 UGC guidelines. The committee stated that the hostel in charges and other relevant officials will be asked to provide a detailed report explaining any lapses in the delay in filing the FIR.
The committee has also proposed the constitution of a four-member committee to conduct a thorough inquiry.
The university will explore the possibility of requesting Naga elders to facilitate obtaining the victim’s statement in an effort to identify the culprits.
Lastly, it was decided that a follow-up meeting will be scheduled two weeks from now to review the progress of the case.
‘The anti-ragging committee 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 has urged anyone with information related to the incident to come forward and assist with the ongoing investigation.