Kolkata: A visually impaired third-year Bengali department student of Jadavpur University lodged a complaint with the university authorities, alleging that he was physically harassed by a second-year engineering student at the New Boys' Hostel. He also wrote a letter to the UGC anti-ragging cell. Both students are boarders of the New Boys' Hostel.
In his letter, the student wrote that taking "advantage of his disability", the second-year student "pushed him in the chest" in front of the hostel superintendent.
An official said, "The anti-ragging squad has initiated an inquiry, and the dean of students submitted some preliminary findings." JU registrar Indrajit Banerjee issued a notice on Wednesday stating that "the university strongly condemns any kind of insensitive, rude, derogatory, and discriminatory behaviour/attitude towards persons with disabilities… The university will take serious punitive action against anyone found violating the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities through any kind of physical/verbal/mental abuse."
"Our convenor, who is also a boarder and looks after what will be cooked for lunch and dinner, posted in the group that there will be no halal chicken on Friday night. This sparked a controversy in the WhatsApp group. There were verbal altercations and provocations from both sections of students, but the second-year student used abusive language against a PG student. We protested against this behaviour and asked for the hostel super's intervention," said the complainant.
Another boarder said when the super came at night for a discussion regarding "whether there is a provision to provide halal chicken" and also about the "abusive behaviour", the second-year student pushed the disabled student.
Some of the old boarders at the New Boys' Hostel said: "Such controversy over halal chicken is a new phenomenon at the New Boys' Hostel. This has never happened at our hostel. There was no problem with any type of food. This is very unfortunate that a dispute happened over halal chicken."
The Forum for Students with Disabilities, JU, said, "We condemn such actions and want a fair probe into the case."
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