A tragic incident at a government college in Himachal Pradesh has led to a police case against a professor and three female students following the mysterious death of a 19-year-old student. The young woman, who hailed from Dharamshala, had previously accused the individuals of sexual harassment and physical ragging.
Details of the Case and the Final Video
The student passed away at Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana on December 26. Kangra Superintendent of Police Ashok Ratan confirmed that the exact cause of her death is currently under investigation. A deeply distressing video, believed to be her last, surfaced on social media on Thursday evening. Recorded in a Pathankot hospital before her transfer to Ludhiana, the video shows the victim in clear distress, struggling to speak.
In the video, when a woman is heard repeatedly asking if the professor touched her inappropriately, the student nods and says "yes." She is also heard stating, "Sir would go after me." This evidence has become a central piece in the unfolding investigation.
Police Action and Father's Allegations
Acting on a formal complaint filed by the victim's father, the Dharamshala police registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Thursday. The accused professor and the three students, who were the victim's classmates and are now in their second year, have been charged under several sections. These include BNS Section 75 (sexual harassment), Section 115(2) (causing hurt), and Section 3(5) (common intention). Additionally, they have been booked under Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institution (Prohibition of) Ragging Act, 2009.
The father's complaint paints a harrowing picture of sustained harassment. He alleges that an incident on September 18 last year triggered his daughter's decline. According to the complaint, the three accused female students harassed and beat her during a ragging session. One of them allegedly hit her with a bottle and cut her hair.
"This incident troubled and scared her a lot. She kept saying that she did not want to go to the college as the students would kill her," the father stated. He enrolled her in a private computer academy on September 20 at her insistence, but her mental and physical health continued to deteriorate, leading to treatment across multiple hospitals in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
Conflicting Narratives and Ongoing Probe
The police have stated that the family had also filed a complaint via the Chief Minister's Helpline on December 20. Kangra Assistant Superintendent of Police Bir Bahadur explained that statements from the accused were recorded then, but the victim's statement could not be taken as she was hospitalized in Ludhiana.
However, the college administration presents a different account. Rakesh Pathania, the principal of Dharamshala Government College, claimed that no official complaint of sexual harassment or ragging was ever filed with the college. He noted that the victim was a first-year student who stopped attending classes after July 29 and had failed her first-year exams.
"I think she felt disturbed as she failed to clear her BA first-year examinations," Pathania said. He added that she had met the accused professor several times, requesting to be promoted to the second year, but was told she would have to re-enroll in the first year, which she never did. The principal emphasized the college's strict anti-ragging policy and committee, asserting that no such complaint was ever received.
SP Ashok Ratan addressed speculation that the harassment was caste-based, stating, "Nowhere in the complaint does he say she was allegedly ragged or harassed because of the community she belonged to." The police are now meticulously collecting medical records from the seven hospitals where she was treated to determine the precise cause of death, promising a thorough inquiry into all allegations.
