Three female students and a college professor have been charged with ragging and sexual assault after a second-year student died at Dharamshala’s Government Degree College, police said.

The student recorded a mobile video before her death, detailing instances of alleged sexual and mental harassment by the professor and threats from fellow students to remain silent.

Allegations and Family Complaint

According to the student’s father, Harshita, Akriti, and Komolika allegedly assaulted his daughter on September 18, in an act of brutal ragging. Professor Ashok Kumar is also named in the complaint for reportedly touching the student inappropriately and causing mental distress.

The student’s health deteriorated due to stress, and she died on December 26 at Ludhiana’s DMC Hospital after treatment at multiple hospitals. The father said he filed a complaint with police and the Chief Minister’s helpline on December 20, citing the mobile video evidence.

Investigation and Institutional Response

Police have filed a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009. The investigation now includes allegations against the professor and examines all hospitals where the student was admitted.

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The college administration has distanced itself, noting the student had failed her first year and had not attended classes since July. Principal Rakesh Pathania said the institution had a zero-tolerance policy on ragging and encouraged students to report harassment, but no prior complaints were received.

UGC Intervention

The University Grants Commission has formed a fact-finding committee to review the circumstances of the student’s death, assess anti-ragging measures, and recommend actions to prevent similar incidents. The UGC emphasized that stringent measures would be taken against those found responsible.