Almost a week after the alleged ragging case of a first-semester student at the North Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Tura hostel surfaced, the university has filed an FIR at Tura police station on October 14.
The FIR was lodged by NEHU Vice Chancellor, Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla at Tura police station.
The Naga Students Union, Shillong said this fulfils the conditions put forth in its charter of demands.
While no headway has been made so far in the case, the NEHU’s fact-finding finding headed by Prof. Lucy Zehol had recently met with representatives of NSU, Angami Elders’ Forum, the Angami Students Union, NEHU Students’ Union, and the Naga students of the university.
During the meeting, the leaders had asked the university to hand over three documents to the family of the student victim, that includes, a veritable copy of the FIR, an authentic copy of the report compiled by fact-finding committee and a formal endorsed missive from the Vice Chancellor assuring that NEHU is resolutely committed to taking appropriate measures, in strict compliance with the UGC Anti-Ragging Laws, regardless of whether the police investigation will garner results.
The university assured the leaders that the anti-ragging policy would be followed and that severe punishment would be given to the perpetrators, once identified.
The student was of the Department of Agri Business Management in NEHU and it was his first day on campus when he was subjected to ragging inside the Arbella Boys’ Hostel on October 8. The Naga student and was subjected to abuse at the hands of seniors. Some of the ragging was communal in nature.
Humiliated and fearful, the student left the hostel the next morning and went back to Nagaland, where he formally lodged a complaint with police.
West Garo Hills Police have also started investigation after the receipt of the emailed copy of the FIR.