Harm using weapons, kidney failure; Ragging claims lives of youth in state

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Incidents of brutal ragging have surged on campuses across the nation, leading to tragic outcomes and urgent calls for intervention. The recent demise of Siddharth, a student at Pookkode Veterinary College, underscores the severity of the issue.

Mahesh, a student at Mannuthi Agricultural University, tragically took his own life in the wake of ragging trauma. Similarly, a student at Nattakam Polytechnic suffered kidney failure after a vicious assault, resulting in the incarceration of nine people. Even a seventh-grade girl faced the brunt of ragging at an international swimming training center in Thiruvananthapuram, underscoring the widespread nature of this menace.

Numerous incidents of violence have been reported, including students being beaten with weapons, stripped and photographed. Despite mandates for anti-ragging affidavits in professional colleges, compliance remains lax with institutions often opting to settle complaints internally shielding perpetrators from legal repercussions.

To address this crisis, urgent measures are imperative. Recommendations include establishing separate accommodations for first-year students ensuring confidentiality for those reporting incidents and restricting senior access to first-year areas. Additionally, institutions must adhere to UGC guidelines promptly reporting serious incidents to the National Anti-Ragging Monitoring Committee.

The establishment of Anti-Ragging Committees and Squads, along with CCTV monitoring, is crucial to deter and address such reprehensible behavior.