Unable to bear the ragging by the senior students in college and frequent scolding by parents at home, Harika, a student of Osmania University Engineering College hanged herself to death at her home in Hyderabad on Saturday. The police said the girl has left behind a three page note detailing the reasons for her extreme step.
Despite stringent laws and severe punishment against ragging of students in colleges, the menace is continuing. Every year the police and the managements of the college carry out publicity, warning the students that ragging will lead to expulsion from the college, such incidents are continuing with alarming frequency.
Harika’s death immediately sparked off violent clashes in the Osmania University campus between two groups of student each blaming the other for the tragic end of the life of Harika. The police said that Harika took the extreme step when no body was at home. They said that Harika has left a three page note behind in which she gave various reasons for her death including the admonishing by her parents.
Students angered over the suicide, went on rampage and damaged the furniture and other items in the College of Engineering and Technology at OU campus. As the student groups were indulging in stone pelting, the police rushed to the scene and used force to disperse the groups. The students union have given a call for strike in the University on Monday alleging that the authorities had failed to check the ragging of juniors by the senior students.
Even as the students were holding a demonstration at the campus, the issue took a new turn with the police claiming that Harika in her note had blamed her parents’ for her suicide. Harika reportedly wrote that their parents had the habit of reprimanding her and insulting her even for minor mistakes and it had become unbearable for her. She also mentioned the ragging by the senior students for her extreme step. Police was investigating the matter.
This is the second death due to the ragging to rock the state during last 24 hours. A polytechnic student S Harish Kumar died at his home last night, after he attempted suicide by consuming pesticide about three months ago . Harish, who hailed from Nandyal in Kurnool district was studying civil engineering at the government polytechnic college at Anantapur, attempted suicide after he was allegedly ragged, tortured and humiliated by the seniors. He named four seniors who had humiliated him at his room. As the pesticide had caused extensive damage to his digestive system and other organs, he under went treatment at a hospital in Hyderabad but condition remain critical. It worsened last night and he died at home.
Of the four named by 18 year old Harish, one Ananta Reddy was arrested by the police and was expelled from the college. The family is demanding action against the other three senior students. The police have now booked a murder case and probe is on. Ragging initially started as a playful teasing of the new comers by the senior students but later took an ugly form including stripping of the junior students, physically torturing them and sexually abusing them. In many cases the wards of rich and powerful families were found involved in such crimes.