KOCHI: Two first-year Marine Engineering students of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) have alleged ragging at the hands of seniors in the same course at the Kunjali Marakkar School of Marine Engineering, and have decided to discontinue study. A native of Ernakulam and another student from Kollam have alleged that second and third year students in the same course subjected them to mental and physical torture and they had submitted complaints to department authorities in this regard.
Following this, the department authorities showed them the photos of the seniors to identify who tortured them and the Ernakulam native identified four who inflicted physical torture while Kollam native also identified a few. “For the course, hostel is compulsory and the students who joined on August 16 for their classes started making frenetic calls to homes two days later saying that the ragging is crossing limits. Following this, we decided to lodge complaint with the varsity authorities. Both students have now decided to call it quits,” said a parent.
It is also understood that the Special Branch of the Kerala Police is also aware of the matter and is in the process of reporting it to the City Police Commissioner. When contacted, the course in-charge Prof N.G. Nair of Marine Engineering Department, Cusat, said that the anti-ragging cell of the university conducted an inquiry into the complaint and has submitted a report to the varsity Registrar and vice-chancellor. “The inquiry has found that no physical assault has taken place. May be some harsh words were used,” he added.
