HRD Ministry calls for probe into Ranchi boy’s ragging in SPA hostel

A day after the Human Resource Development Ministry ordered a fresh inquiry into the ragging incident that left a student with a damaged knee, Director of School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Professor Chetan Vaidya, said the institute has written to Naveen Kujur's father to confirm the names of the five accused.

Higher Education Secretary Ashok Thakur on Monday said the Ministry had ordered a probe into the ragging, which took place in September 2012. The Ministry also sought an explanation from SPA .

Vaidya said he had not received any official communication from the HRD Ministry, but had got a call regarding the "status" of the ragging incident. "We responded to Ministry officials and they are free to conduct the inquiry. We have also written to Naveen Kujur's father to confirm the names of the five students who ragged him."

SPA officials said they are talking to first-year students to gather details about the night when Naveen and other freshers were ragged inside their hostel in New Friends Colony, Southeast Delhi.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Southeast) said police are in touch with college students and authorities to collect information regarding the sequence of events. "We need to identify the accused before taking any action," he said.

Vaidya said he will take up the issue of Naveen taking the exams with the institute authorities.

Rajendra Kachroo, who monitors the anti-ragging call centre for UGC and HRD Ministry, said they had taken note of the incident on the basis of media reports and sought a response from SPA registrar. "The registrar said the victim must give names of the accused. This shows the carelessness of SPA staff and disconnect with students' welfare. First-year students usually do not know their seniors by names and the boy has already said he can identify them by face."

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