JU forms 4-member committee to probe torture on MTech student
Times of India | 30 July 2024
Kolkata: Jadavpur University has formed a four-member panel to probe the Wednesday night incident, where MTech student Biswajit Paramanik was mentally tortured and forced to sign confessional statements on allegations of stealing a laptop by fellow boarders at D block of Main Hostel. The decision was taken at a meeting on Monday attended by interim VC Bhaskar Gupta and other officials.
Though the boy has not lodged any complaint, the probe will be based on medical officer Mitali Deb’s demand for an investigation as she was resisted by a mob of students from rescuing the victim from the hostel in an ambulance. Deb was also asked to sign an undertaking, saying she will be responsible if anything untoward happens to the boy.
Sources said since the medical officer could not be part of the committee, a doctor from outside will be approached to be part of the panel that will include anti-ragging squad chairman Sanmoy Karmakar and a JU official. A legal expert will also be there.
Earlier, Deb said what she saw on Wednesday night could be just the “tip of iceberg”. On Monday, she said, “It should be probed thoroughly so that no student faces such a torture. The interim VC assured me that my suggestions to beef up night security at hostels and install CCTVs at corridors will be given importance.” SFI members also staged protests, demanding a probe into the incident and also issuance of show-cause notices in the 2023 case.