The father of a first-year postgraduate student in Jadavpur University had to come to the campus all the way from Baghmundi village in Purulia early on Thursday because the family got a shocking message.

The family learnt from the university authorities that the student — Biswajit Pramanik — had to be admitted to hospital after he suffered a suspected panic attack following his alleged humiliation and harassment by hostel mates.

The father spent almost the entire day in the hospital, hoping for speedy recovery of the son.

They were lucky. Biswajit was discharged in the evening and they returned home to
Purulia.

Almost a year ago, the parents of another JU student had to come to the campus from Ranaghat in Nadia because they got a similar message — their son was admitted to the same hospital after being harassed by senior students.

That boy, not even 18, died within hours of hospitalisation.

JU has to do more to offer a safe space to its own students, many academics and former students said on Thursday.

The student admitted to the hospital on Wednesday night is pursuing an MTech in computer science, an evening postgraduate programme offered by the university.

A professor in the computer science and engineering department said they were surprised to know that Biswajit, a class representative (CR), had to be admitted to hospital.

Usually, a class representative is elected during the students’ union election.

But as the state government has imposed a stay on the campus elections, students nominate one of them as the CR, said Nandini Mukhopadhyay, the head of the
department.

“He (Biswajit) did not do the undergraduate course here in JU. He was admitted to the PG programme after writing an admission test. Their classes started in September last year. Any student pursuing such a programme is considered a good student,” said Mukhopadhyay.

The Telegraph tried to speak to the student but calls and text messages to him went unaswered.

A JU official said his father, Meghbaran Pramanik, came to the hospital on Thursday morning.

The father spoke to registrar Snehamanju Basu in the hospital, when she went there to see the student.

The family has yet to lodge a complaint, a JU official said.

A teacher who was among those who met Meghbaran said he seemed reluctant to complain. “They stay in a remote area in Purulia. He (the father) did not want to lodge any complaint and was keen on taking his son back to Purulia,” said the professor.

Many students on the campus said the incident suggests that it could be a case of ragging and the authorities must probe the allegations that have emerged.

“If nothing happened, why did the university authorities have to rescue the student and get him admitted to hospital? Why was there an attempt to stop those who went to
rescue him? Why did the student not come to the hostel after his release from the
hospital?” asked Anushna Das, a student of comparative literature.

“The fact that the JU authorities did not take any action against those who ragged a student last year has encouraged some JU hostel residents to keep doing what they have been doing. The incident must be probed,” said a student of engineering in JU.

Manojit Mandal, a member of the university’s executive council, said: “There should be a thorough probe. We must know why so many complaints of harassment are coming from the JU Main Hostel. Has the university administration failed to introduce adequate mechanisms to curb complaints of harassment in the hostel?”