A first-year postgraduate student of Jadavpur University, who had to be hospitalised in late July after he was allegedly harassed and humiliated in a “kangaroo court” in the university’s main hostel, has been staying in rented accommodation because he is too scared to go back to the main hostel.

The student of computer science and technology used to stay in the CD block of the main hostel when he was allegedly assaulted.

The student, who had to be admitted to a private hospital as he suffered a panic attack following the assault, said the authorities told him after the incident that they could allot him accommodation in the B block of the main hostel.

JU main hostel is located about 220 meters from the campus. “I wanted accommodation in a hostel on the campus. But the authorities told me that those are earmarked for first-year undergraduate students following the death of a fresher after being ragged by the senior students in the main hostel last year,” said the student from Purulia.

“I do not want to stay in the main hostel as I have yet to overcome the trauma of what happened in late July. I don’t think changing blocks would be able to ensure my safety. My parents are scared, too, and don’t want me to stay in the main hostel.”

The student moved into the rented accommodation last week. Staying in rented accommodation, near Sulekha in Jadavpur, was a costly proposition, he said.

“At the main hostel, it would cost me ₹2,000 a month. The rented accommodation costs me ₹5,000. My father makes a living running a small grocery. Still, I had to leave the hostel for safety,” the student said.

On July 24, a group of around 50-60 students had allegedly ganged up in the CD block, surrounded him and accused him of having stolen a laptop.

A member of the anti-ragging squad of the university who visited the hostel around that time said he had learnt that a group of hostel residents was trying to get him to admit to having stolen the laptop when he fell sick.

The university, which was not inclined to probe the incident of harassment initially, later constituted a four-member committee.

The committee submitted its report to interim vice-chancellor Bhaskar Gupte early this week.

Calls and text messages from this newspaper to VC Gupta failed to yield any
response.

“I was called before the committee for deposition. But no action has been taken against those who attacked me so far. This means those who assaulted me are roaming free inside the main hostel. My parents are worried about what if they attack me again. The death of the undergraduate student last year has left them more worried,” the student said.