The anti-ragging committee of Jadavpur University, which probed the death of a first-year undergraduate student because of alleged ragging, has recommended permanent rustication of some students from the varsity.

The report recommended permanent rustication of four students who were found to be present and “fully involved in ragging either on the spot on the night of 9th August 2023 or/and before it”.

It recommended the rustication of five students for four semesters and their expulsion from the JU hostel permanently as they “were found to be directly associated with criminal conspiracy to rag”.

The recommendation was placed and accepted at the university’s executive council meeting on Friday.

Penal measures have been recommended for the staff of Jadavpur University Main Hostel where the first-year student was allegedly ragged.

The committee did not meet in the intervening period as the former vice-chancellor, Buddhadeb Sau, was not attending office following his removal by the governor for holding the university’s convocation in deference to a suggestion from the state
government.

The first-year student allegedly fell from a balcony of the main hostel late on August 9. He died in hospital early on August 10.

The anti-ragging committee report, which Metro has seen, said: “The ARS (Anti Ragging Squad) reported that the following senior members mentioned in table 3 were DIRECTLY INVOLVED in ragging the victim. The boarders were found to be present and fully involved in ragging either on the spot on the night of 9th August 2023 or/ and before it. Due to police custody of these students, no interrogation was possible except for SL (serial). 01.”

It said: “The following senior boarders mentioned in table 4 were found to be DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED with CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY TO RAG. The boarders have been identified from many depositions to have been present on the 2nd floor, Block-A/2, JUMH (Jadavpur University Main Hostel) during the mishaps on the night of 09 August and DIRECTLY…..in the hostel on the night of 09 August 2023.”

The summary of the anti-ragging squad’s report was ready in early December 2023.

But the report could not be tabled as the executive council did not meet, a scenario which came in the way of the university announcing any punishment formally.

“Almost nine months have passed since the death of my son. However, the university is yet to take any action. I hope now that the new VC has assumed charge, steps will be taken so we get justice,” the father of the deceased student told Metro.

Bhaskar Gupta was appointed interim VC early this month.

Kaji Masum Akhtar, a member of the executive council, said: “It is unfortunate that there was a delay in pronouncing punishment.”

Manojit Mandal, a member of the executive council, said disciplinary measures could be taken against hostel staff guilty of dereliction of duty.

“Suspension for one or two semesters has been recommended for another 40-odd students,” he said.