Jadavpur University student attempt suicide: Ragging case shakes Kolkata

On August 10, Wednesday, Swapnadip Kundu a 17-year-old boy, majoring in Bengali literature in his first year at Jadavpur University commits suicide after falling from the second floor of the main hostel. This terrifying incident has sent shockwaves through the city.

JU students protesting [Photo Courtesy: google/The Hindu]

The circumstances surrounding the incident are currently under investigation, and as of 16th August 2023, nine students are arrested amid the rising political pressure, including the earlier arrest of two second year student named Deepsekhar Dutta, Manotosh Ghosh, and one former student Sourav Chowdhury who still continued to stay at the university hostel has been arrested. The incident has ignited conversations about mental health support for students and the need for improved safety protocols within educational institutions and the campus’s security. The victim after joining the hostel on 6th August, immediately requested his parents to take him home back as he was facing ragging in the hostel.

The victim’s father said that "My son had told me that they were scaring him. I had decided to bring him back on Friday (August 11), but they ended his life before that."

JU is one of the best Universities in the country and such awful news of the student’s suicide is highly shocking and is questioning the safety measures on campus.

Jadavpur University Main Gate [Photo Courtesy: google/SakshiPost]

The UGC has cancelled visiting the campus "We sent a preliminary report to the UGC on Monday, and they expressed their satisfaction over the phone. They won't be visiting the campus on Wednesday, but they requested us to provide updates and submit the final report soon," stated by JU registrar Snehamanju Basu. 

Subhas Sarkar, Union Minister of State for Education, stated on Tuesday that the report given to the UGC only covered the steps taken after the incident, with no mention of the measures taken before to the occurrence to create a ragging-free campus.

CM Mamata Banerjee is blaming the incident in the Left-backed students, while BJP is carrying out a protest over the incident. The CM also assured the victim’s parents that a strict action will be taken. This incident have created a total chaos in the society and have provoked political wars.

Author:

Sudipta Bera

Editor:

Garima Dhanania