Police in Himachal Pradesh have registered a case against three female students and a college professor in connection with the death of a second-year student at a government degree college in Dharamshala.
According to officials, the student recorded a video on her mobile phone before her death, in which she described the sexual and mental harassment she allegedly faced on campus.Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father, the student was reportedly subjected to severe ragging by three fellow students—Harshita, Akriti and Komolika—on September 18.
The complaint alleges that the trio assaulted her and threatened her to stay silent. It also names Ashok Kumar, a professor at the college, accusing him of inappropriate physical contact and mental harassment.
The father said his daughter was under extreme stress due to the alleged actions of the professor, which affected her health. She was treated at several hospitals before passing away on December 26 at DMC Hospital in Ludhiana. The family said they delayed filing the complaint due to trauma and approached the police only after finding the video recorded by the student.
Police have registered the case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009. While the initial investigation focused on ragging, it has now been expanded to include allegations of sexual harassment and a review of the student’s medical history.
The college administration said it had not received any prior complaint from the student and claimed she was academically ineligible for promotion. The administration also stated that it is fully cooperating with the investigation.