24-05-2025
ISF MLA Nawsad Siddique writes to Jadavpur University authorities against ragging of Muslim student
West Bengal's Indian Secular Front MLA Nawsad Siddique has written to Kolkata's Jadavpur University authorities alleging harassment of a first year Muslim student at the varsity. This is one of the many ragging incidents that have come to light at the premium university in recent years raising questions about the impending ragging issue at this premium institute.
The first-year undergraduate student of International Relations has complained that he was heckled and ragged by two research scholars from his own department. 'They threatened me and did not allow me to leave. I am really scared and feel threatened. I ask you to take strict action against them,' the letter addressed to the Pro-Vice Chancellor issued by the student said.
The student also raised concerns over the ragging issue at the university. 'I was ragged in the same institute which had so many movements against ragging,' he added in his official letter on May 21. When contacted by The Hindu, the student who has raised these concerns did not want to make further comments as he feels intimidated by the turn of events and also added that his parents are scared for his safety.
In reaction to his letter, MLA Nawshad Siddique wrote a letter on May 22 and said that this type of abuse is tantamount to a type of ragging.
'He comes from an under-privileged community and is from a backward region where higher education among them is visibly poor. This type of threat would make these students more vulnerable and would invisibilize them in the long run,' Mr Siddique's letter to Jadavpur University officials stated. He asked the authorities to take immediate action against the perpetrators.
The ISF MLA also mentioned how a ragging incident in 2023 had led to a student's death inside the university hostel, a case which remains to be solved even after two years. Various other ragging incidents have been reported on the campus within these two years, even as the campus saw massive protest rallies and multiple deputations against the ragging culture at both the campus premises and hostels.
On the other hand, the two research scholars who were accused of harassment have also filed a counter complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee and claimed that they were harassed by the first-year student.
An urgent anti-ragging committee meeting was organised at the university on May 23 to discuss the issue.
Students Federation of India representatives at JU have also written to the university and asked for detailed investigation into the matter and said that strict punishment must be given to all accused if proven guilty.
University authorities who did not want to be named said that this whole incident was a political scuffle, and according to him eyewitnesses have claimed that there was no issue of ragging.
