Harassed boy, 1st-generation engg student, may get a different hostel
Times of India | 27 July 2024Pramanik, who was rescued from Main Hostel’s Block D, where he was being mentally tormented by a mob of students accusing him of stealing a laptop, has come to the city to study computer science engineering from Baghmundi in Purulia.He belongs to a poor family and is the first in his family to pursue higher studies. “My son is better now. He did not return to Purulia with us. He is in Kolkata and may resume classes once he is fully fit,” said his father, Meghbaran Pramanik, who added they had not lodged a complaint as his son spoke of an “misunderstanding between friends”. But he ruled out the allegations of stealing. “I run a provision store in a remote area. We struggle to fund his education. Despite the odds, he has come a long way and no one can say he has ever been involved in anything bad or has done something bad. He is well-behaved and a quiet person.”
A senior official at the university said, “We want the student to return and resume classes. We will ensure his education and safety are not compromised. If necessary, we will shift him to another hostel.”
Dean of students Rajat Ray on Friday submitted a report on the Wednesday night’s incident and sought a probe. “We need to think about the student’s safety and whether he will be shifted to another hostel or not. I have submitted a report and the decision will be taken after a discussion with the VC.” General secretary of JUTA Partha Pratim Ray, too, said it was necessary to shift the boy to another hostel for “his safety and security”.
Anti-ragging squad chairman Sanmoy Karmakar, who met Pramanik at the hospital, said, “My first suggestion to the university will be to provide him a berth in a separate hostel on the campus. He should not be kept at Main Hostel.” Karmakar added his preliminary findings also suggested that the boy, who had been accused of stealing a laptop, wanted to give some money on humanitarian grounds to the student, whose laptop had gone missing.
Pramanik studied BTech in Purulia and took admission to JU last September in the evening MTech course, after clearing admission tests.
A teacher at the computer science engineering department said, “Pramanik is a class representative (CR) and is the point of contact between teachers and students. He finished his PG 1 exams last week. His PG2 classes will begin next week.”
