DHARAMSHALA: The death of a 19-year-old girl Student Pallavi after a prolonged illness at a hospital in Ludhiana in Punjab has snowballed into a serious controversy, with her parents alleging harassment by three students and a professor at a government college in Dharamshala.
According to the family, the girl remained under severe stress for months before she was shifted to a hospital in Punjab, where she eventually died.
After her death, the parents lodged a complaint, alleging that the mental trauma caused by harassment and ragging at the college played a role in her deteriorating health.
An FIR has been registered by the police under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (VNS), naming three students and a college professor.
The parents of Pallavi alleged that their daughter was subjected to caste-based humiliation by fellow students, who, they claimed, repeatedly addressed her by her caste instead of her name.
Pallavi had also told her father that a professor sexually harassed her, following which she became deeply distressed, faced humiliation, and slipped into depression, her parents told media persons.
On the other hand, the college principal expressed deep sorrow over the death of the student but rejected the allegations of ragging. He said Pallavi was a first-year BFR student who had failed in three subjects.
According to him, she last attended the college on July 29 and was not allowed to continue attending classes thereafter due to academic reasons.
The principal said Pallavi had been approaching the Department of Geography, which was in charge of admissions to higher classes, seeking continuation, but this was not possible as she had failed in three subjects.
He categorically denied any incident of ragging in the college, stating that the institution follows a zero-tolerance policy against ragging and that no complaint was ever brought to the notice of the college administration or the anti-ragging committee.
The parents have stated that they could not approach the police earlier as they were fully occupied with their daughter’s treatment during her critical health issues.
Police officials confirmed that while the FIR has been registered, the matter is still under investigation.
“Verification of the allegations is underway,” a police officer said, adding that the accused professor is being apprehended for questioning".
The professor has got anticipatory bail and he has denied allegations saying that he is ready to face probe and no complaint was brought to his notice.
The government has put him under suspension.
Meanwhile, BJP leader and Dharamshala MLA Sudhir Sharma termed the incident tragic and said it reflects a serious failure in ensuring the safety of students in educational institutions.
Sudhir Sharma said he stands firmly with the victim’s family and will ensure that they get justice. “I am with the bereaved family and will fight to ensure that the guilty are punished. Those who tried to suppress the matter will not be spared,” he said.
He said serious allegations have been levelled against three students of Dharamshala College, accused of assaulting, intimidating and mentally harassing the victim.
Allegations of inappropriate behaviour by a professor have also surfaced. Sharma said such incidents are unacceptable and have shaken society.
Following the complaint by the victim’s family, police have registered an FIR at Dharamshala police station under Sections 75, 115(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009.
Sharma said the student was allegedly harassed over a period of time, pushing her into depression.
Due to illness and severe trauma, the family could not approach the police immediately. He said the family later lodged a complaint on the CM Helpline on December 20, after which the matter was forwarded to Dharamshala police for inquiry.
Calling it a highly sensitive case, Sudhir Sharma said justice must be delivered without delay. “This tragic death must be thoroughly investigated so that such incidents are never repeated,” he said.
