KANPUR: Taking a stern view of the ragging incident at IIT Kanpur, its senate (the apex decision making body of IIT Kanpur) has decided to place all 22 accused students under suspension till next senate meeting takes place (scheduled in November). The nine-member probe committee which had been constituted to look into the ragging charges levelled by the first year undergraduate students (freshers) had found all of them to be true. The committee had also found charges of sexual harassment to be absolutely true. It was after this the committee recommended for termination of accused second year students from IIT Kanpur.

IIT Kanpur

The ragging incident dates back to August 19 and 20 (2017), the freshers were made to do formidable tasks, were abused and bullied. Some of the freshers had even complained that they were forced to strip by their seniors which had left them embarrassed and humiliated. Sources said that the probe committee also found the sexual harassment charges levelled by the freshers to be true. Soon after the senate meeting concluded on late Thursday night, the suspended students were not only asked to vacate their hostel rooms, they were also apprised that they cannot enter the campus till they are called to get their statements recorded.

Deputy Director, IITKanpur, Prof Manindra Agarwal confirmed the suspension of 22 senior students. “For the time being the senior students have been suspended by the senate which met on Thursday. Another investigation into the entire matter would be carried out by the committee and these 22 students would get a chance to get their statements recorded. Any final decision regarding their fate would be taken once the investigation comes to an end and the probe committee submits its report. The matter would again be taken up by the senate in its next meeting the date of which is not final yet. The students have been asked to vacate the hostel rooms and leave the campus”, Prof Agarwal said.

The IIT Kanpur senate debated on the course of action to be taken against the accused students for several hours. The meeting was chaired by IIT Kanpur Director, Prof Indranil Manna who is also the senate chairman and was attended by all the senators including deputy director and registrar. “The senate decided on Thursday to suspend the second year students who are accused of indulging in ragging the freshers. These students have been banned from entering the IIT Kanpur campus and also will not be allowed to attend classes. The fate of these students would be decided when the senate meets next, the date of which is yet not finalised”, said a senator.

Termination of  22 students