Ragging horror in Meghalaya: Class X JNV student hospitalised after being ragged by senior students

In an alleged case of ragging, a student of class X at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Williamnagar, in Meghalaya’s East Garo Hills was hospitalized after he was allegedly “ragged” and abused by his senior students.

The incident took place on September 1, 2023. As per inputs, at least 15 students of class XI called the victim student to a room and assulted him injuring him greviously.

Soon after coming out of the room, the victim student reported the incident of extreme cruelty and insensitivity by his seniors to the institution authorities. He had named at least 5 of the assaulters to the authorities.

The authorities immidiately rushed him to a nearby hospital for treatment and informed his parents about his ordeal. He is now undergoing treatment in a hospital in Tura.

The victim is currently out of danger and is expected to be out of medical care in the next few days.

Following the incident, his parents lodged a complaint against the assaulters.

Moreover, the JNV authorities also launched an investigation into the incident where it found 7 students guilty of physically assaulting the victim while at least another 10 stood around to witness the assault.

“The victim as well as the assaulters are all juveniles and as such will be tried under the Juvenile system. The matter is currently being investigated and we will submit a report on it soon. The assaulters will be booked under appropriate sections,” informed SP of East Garo Hills, Siddharth Ambedkar.

“7 students have been rusticated for their act and the other 10 have been temporarily suspended. We will be holding a meeting with the school authorities on the shortcomings that led to the incident and take a call on how to ensure such acts don’t repeat. The matter is most concerning,” informed the East Garo Hills DC, Vibhor Agarwala.

The incident has sparked outrage in local circles with many seeking the strictest punishment for those that dished out physical abuse leading to the Class X student being hospitalised.

Sadly, this was not the first incident that had occurred in the institution. At least three other students from the same school who were involved in ragging and violence had already been rusticated by the school authorities.

According to sources, many of these occurrences have gone unreported due to fear of retaliation.

Also Read: Meghalaya Govt to release Rs 52 crores for SSA teachers’ salary