Jalpaiguri Engineering College has come up with a number of anti-ragging measures close on the heels of the August 9 incident at Calcutta's Jadavpur University where a 17-year-old freshman died allegedly after being a victim of ragging.

Amitava Roy, the principal of Jalpaiguri Engineering College, said various measures were taken during a meeting held on August 18 to stop ragging in the institution. They include strengthening the anti-ragging committee and the administrative set-up and stringent steps against students found involved in the act.

“We have decided to include representatives from a wide cross-section including those from the district administration, police, health department, college faculty, students and media in the anti-ragging committee,” said Roy.

Students found involved in ragging will not be allowed to sit in “campus interviews” for job placement. “Parents will be informed about this decision so that they can alert their wards,’ said Roy.

The college authority has also decided to print leaflets and banners with the anti-ragging rules, the phone numbers of police and representatives of the committee.

A total of 1,650 students are enrolled in the college from first to fourth years. Out of them, 650 students stay outside the college campus and the rest in five college hostels.

College authorities said CCTVs would be installed at the entrance of four hostels. So far, only the entrance of the first-year hostel has a camera.

There were reports of alleged ragging of a first-year student by a second-year student at the Jalpaiguri Engineering College in 2018.

“If anyone is found violating the rules, the student will be expelled from the hostel,” the principal said.

A medical officer will also visit the college every month for counseling.

“We will also write to the state government to appoint permanent wardens for each hostel,” said the principal.

So far, there are no permanent wardens in any of the hostels.