Four arrested in ragging incident,Himachal govt orders inquiry

Dharamsala, Mar 10 (PTI) Four medical students accused
of ragging a junior leading to his death were arrested and
charged with culpable homicide as the government of India's
northern state of Himachal Pradesh Tuesday ordered a
magisterial probe into the shocking incident.

The four were remanded to police custody for varying
periods by a local court in connection with the death of
19-year-old Aman Kachroo, a student of Dr Rajendra Prasad
Government Medical College, Tanda.

Aman, an alumnus of DPS International, Delhi and a
resident of Gurgaon, had died on Sunday night in a hospital in
Tanda due to severe injuries. His family alleged that he was
slapped, punched and kicked many times on the head and chest
by his seniors who also shaved off his head.

Taking serious note of the incident, the state
government ordered a magisterial probe into the incident and
promised stern action against the guilty. College principal
Suresh Sankhayan was also replaced by Anil Chauhan, Head of
Department of Opthalmology.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal sought a detailed
report on the incident from college authorities which
suspended a hostel warden, manager and two guards.

While two second year students Ajay Kumar Verma and
Naveen Verma, who were arrested Monday, were remanded to
police custody till March 13 by District and Sessions judge P
S Rana, Abhinav Verma and Mukul Sharma surrendered Tuesday and
were sent to police custody till March 16.

A case has been registered against them under section
304 of Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to
murder) with Kangra police station, Superintendent of Police
of Kangra district Atul Kumar Fulzule said.

They have been also booked under the anti-ragging
ordinance.

The magisterial inquiry will look in detail the cause
of death of the student Aman Kachroo and also fix role and
responsibility of the involved people in the unfortunate
incident, Health Minister Rajeev Bindal told PTI.

As a precautionary measure, a police team comprising
an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI), two head constables and 25
constables has been deployed on the college premises. Classes,
which were suspended Monday in the wake of Aman's death,
however, resumed Tuesday.

In Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi, a shocked family
of the student, who was cremated at the Lodhi Crematorium in
the national capital, said the boy was subjected to immense
violence and demanded action against the medical college.

Rohit Kachroo, his uncle, said Aman had told his
parents about the ragging in the institute. "He had told his
parents about the ragging. We did not think, it will turn this
violent," he said.

"I spoke to him last Thursday only. He told me that he
lodged a complaint with the house warden. No action was
taken," claimed a friend of Aman.

"He told me seniors used to call him up at around 3 AM
or 4 AM and would even ask him to get alcohol from market and
if he didn't they would beat him up," he claimed.

Virkein Dhar, a cousin of the victim, claimed Aman was
tortured for over two hours along with other juniors after the
four seniors managed to get inside the hostel after bribing
the guard.

Condemning the ragging incident, Health Minister
Anbumani Ramadoss said "killing (of the student) is something
really not acceptable. Strong anti-ragging measures should be
taken and whoever is responsible should be punished".

The Supreme Court had last year directed educational
institutions to register criminal cases against those
indulging in ragging activities. PTI SNS
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