UGC, Himachal Pradesh govt order separate probes into ragging-linked death of Dalit student

New Delhi: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has formed a five-member probe panel to look into the tragic death of a 19-year-old Dalit student in a Dharamshala college who had alleged ragging against three students as well as sexual harassment against a professor.

The UGC said that the fact-finding committee, headed by Professor Raj Kumar Mittal of the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident as well as the conduct of the college authorities.

Meanwhile, the Himachal Pradesh government also said it has set up an inquiry committee that will cover all aspects, including alleged sexual harassment by a professor and caste-related abuse in college, with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu promising strict action against the guilty.

Sukhu said that "based on the video statement of the deceased woman in which she had named the professor, the accused professor would be immediately suspended."

The student of the Government Degree College in Dharamshala breathed her last in a Ludhiana hospital. A video of the visibly sick student making allegations against the professor in the hospital, before she passed away, has been making the rounds on social media.

The UGC, in a statement, said that it has taken “serious cognisance” of the matter. “The UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline registered a suo-motu complaint based on media reports alleging ragging leading to suicide, while the college authorities have stated that the case is a death and not a suicide. A police enquiry is underway, and UGC has already constituted a Fact-Finding Committee to examine the incident. UGC assures that culprits will not be spared and that stringent action will follow,” it said.

The other members of the probe panel are former UGC member Professor Sushma Yadav, Gujarat University VC Dr Neerja Gupta, and Pondicherry University VC Professor P Prakash Babu. UGC Joint Secretary Dr Sunita Siwach will be the coordinating member of the panel.

(With PTI inputs)