Investigation Launched Following Student's Death in Himachal Pradesh

CHANDIGARH: Authorities in Himachal Pradesh are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 19-year-old student from Government Degree College, Dharamsala. The police have registered a case against a college professor and three female students on allegations of ragging, physical assault, and sexual misconduct.

The student, identified as Pallavi, was in her second year at the college. Her father, Vikram Kumar, filed a complaint with the police stating that on September 18 of the previous year, three fellow students — Harshita, Aakriti, and Komolika — had allegedly harassed and physically assaulted his daughter. Additionally, he accused a professor, Ashok Kumar, of subjecting Pallavi to inappropriate behaviour.

Kumar, who resides in Sidhbari near Dharamsala, informed the police that the alleged incidents caused significant mental distress for his daughter, which subsequently affected her physical health. Pallavi received treatment at various hospitals throughout the state, and as her condition deteriorated, she was transferred to Dayanand Medical College and Hospital in Ludhiana, where she passed away on December 26.

According to sources, Kumar indicated that he was unable to file a police report earlier due to his daughter's critical condition and the trauma experienced by the family after her death.

An FIR (First Information Report) has been filed at the Dharamsala police station under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), as well as Section 3 of the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009, against professor Ashok Kumar and the three students involved.

Police officials stated that the case was registered after a preliminary inquiry into the complaint. A police spokesperson noted, "Only after a thorough investigation will we determine whether the allegations of ragging, physical assault, intimidation, and sexual misconduct are linked to the decline in Pallavi's health and her eventual death."

As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities will gather statements from Pallavi's classmates, teachers, and college officials, as well as family members. Medical records from all facilities where she received treatment, including Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana, are also being collected to ascertain the cause of death and any potential connection to the alleged incidents.

A senior police official has assured the public that a comprehensive and unbiased investigation will take place, examining all facets of the case thoroughly.