Five Students Arrested in Mangaluru College Ragging Incident
Incident of Ragging Leads to Arrests
On August 6, in Mangaluru, authorities apprehended five students following a reported ragging incident at a private college. It is alleged that senior students harassed first-year students both on and off campus. The police took action based on complaints from two first-year students, leading to the arrests under anti-ragging laws, and an investigation has been initiated.
Mangaluru's police commissioner, Sudhir Kumar Reddy, stated that the affected students sustained injuries, prompting additional charges related to assault against the accused. According to the complainants, a group of senior students allegedly assaulted them near a tea shop close to the Gujerekere tank in the Jeppu area. The seniors reportedly coerced the students to remove their footwear, follow their orders, and comply with other demands.
The complaint alleges that the accused initially summoned the new students to their rented accommodations, where they were subjected to humiliating treatment, forced to remain in their undergarments, and made to perform embarrassing acts, along with verbal abuse. The complainants further claimed that students who did not respond to the seniors' summons faced physical violence and intimidation. The police noted that, so far, only two first-year students have come forward with detailed complaints, while many others are believed to be silent due to fear of retaliation.
Following the complaints, the Pandeshwar police visited the college and registered the case. According to police reports, six individuals are named in the complaint, with five already arrested and efforts ongoing to locate the sixth suspect.