BJB College girl student's death: Who are the seniors involved in ragging?

Following the recovery of the handwritten suicide note by the girl student of BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, questions are now being raised over the identification of the elusive three seniors who allegedly forced her to take such a drastic step.

In the note written in Odia, the victim, Ruchika Mohanty stated that she was ending her life after getting fed up with mental harassment by three senior girl students.
 

Ruchika, a Plus 3 first-year student of History (Hons), alleged that she was mentally tortured by the three senior girl students that compelled her to take the extreme step. However, she has not mentioned their names in the note.

Ruchika’s father Ganeswar Mohanty, who was inconsolable in front of the media personnel, said, “I still can’t believe my daughter is no more. This is not tolerable at all.”

Though the institution is claiming to be the number one college in Odisha, students allege that ragging is rampant on the campus. As per the allegation, authorities are aware of the ongoing ragging. However, no steps are being taken to put a curb on ragging.

As per the hostel superintendent, an internal inquiry is underway into the incident. However, the million-dollar question is how such ragging by seniors was being done when the college authorities have been claiming the college to be ragging-free.

Meanwhile, Badagada police on Saturday questioned some inmates of the hostel. It is suspected that roommates and other inmates of the hostel must be aware of the ongoing ragging activities as it must have been done in gatherings.

Meanwhile, State Higher Education Minister Rohit Pujari condoled the student’s death.

“I am deeply saddened by the sad demise of Ruchika Mohanty, a first-year student of Plus 3 Arts in BJB College. I express my sympathy to the bereaved family members. It is a very sensitive incident. The State government will take appropriate steps after receiving the police investigation report,” tweeted Pujari.

Meanwhile, Ruchika’s mother said that her daughter had hinted at ragging incidents to her over telephone.

“She was very disturbed when I talked with her a day before she committed suicide, but she didn’t mention about the ragging activities elaborately. However, there was indication in her talk that the seniors were showing supremacy by undermining them,” said Ruchika’s mother.

“Ruchika was very much focused on study and didn’t talk much with me. On that day, she was hesitating to talk much and so, I thought she must be busy in study. However, she indicated about the situation at the hostel,” she said.

“Generally, boys are found to be indulged in ragging their juniors. It was beyond my imagination that girls are ragging their juniors at the hostel. Not only the three seniors, but also the college authorities are responsible for the tragic incident. Stern action should be taken against them,” she added.

Ruchika’s sister said that she was in a disturbing condition at the hostel.
“As my sister was reading till late night, her roommates were feeling disturbed and were angry with her. The senior roommates were drubbing her as mentally abnormal. She was telling about two senior girls who were tormenting her. My sister was also disturbed as the two seniors stopped a farewell function,” said Ruchika’s sister.

In another development, a three-member police team has been formed to investigate the case. All the 134 hostel inmates will be questioned in this regard. College staff, hostel superintendent and warden have been brought under the purview of investigation. However, identity of the three accused seniors is yet to be established.