RAGGING!

Student's 'unnatural death' in hostel

 

COOCH BEHAR, Aug. 18: News of 'unnatural death' of a student of Cooch Behar Polytechnic created tension in Cooch Behar on Monday. As no complaint was submitted the police started a case of unnatural death into the matter, police sources said.

 

Suspecting the incident as a result of ragging the Cooch Behar unit of the All India Democratic Students' Organisation (AIDSO) submitted a memorandum to the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO demanding an inquiry into the matter and punitive measures against the persons involved with the incident.

 

It was learnt that after passing the Madhyamik examination Sunil Murmu (17) came from Kolaghat and took admission in the first year electrical trade in Cooch Behar Polytechnic. He started attending class from 21 July. He was from a very poor family.

 

The Naveen Baran Utsav (reception ceremony of fresher students) was organised in Cooch Behar Polytechnic on Saturday. It rolled till deep of the night. Naturally, on that night, the students of the hostel went to their beds late. Next noon, Sunil was found groaning in his room. At first, he was brought to a private hospital but they reportedly denied admitting him. Then he was shifted to MJN Hospital where he was declared brought dead. The body was sent to the hospital's morgue for post-mortem.

 

The principal of the institute, Mr Amulya Barman said he had no knowledge about any previous record of illness of the deceased student. He simply got astonished when he heard of the death of the student. A senior police official said the actual cause of death would be ascertained after conducting the post-mortem.

 

It was learnt that the deceased student's parents left for Cooch Behar from East Midnapore today and they may arrive here tomorrow. It is expected that the police may start a thorough inquiry after receiving a specific complaint from them. []