Sunil Chadha
Dharamshala: In a deeply distressing case that has shaken Himachal Pradesh, a 19-year-old former college student from Dharamshala died after battling severe mental and physical distress for nearly three months, allegedly triggered by ragging and harassment at her college.
The police have now registered a case against three students and a professor based on the complaint of the victim’s father and statements recorded during the course of treatment.
According to the family, the student, who was undergoing treatment in multiple hospitals, made painful allegations while lying on a hospital bed, struggling to speak. A video that has since surfaced shows her responding intermittently to questions, accusing a professor of inappropriate behaviour and blaming senior students for violence and intimidation.
He troubled me, touched me inappropriately, student alleged
In her statement, the student reportedly named a professor, alleging that he repeatedly followed her, behaved inappropriately and touched her without consent. Family members claim these actions left her traumatised and pushed her into deep depression.
The student also alleged that one of the senior students assaulted her with a bottle, while others mentally harassed her and did not allow her to attend classes peacefully. Due to her fragile condition, she could only speak in fragments, but her family maintains that her words clearly pointed to sustained harassment.
Case registered against students, professor
Based on the father’s complaint, the Dharamshala police have registered a case under sections 75, 115(2), 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with Section 3 of the Anti-Ragging Act. The victim’s father stated that his daughter was a second-year student at a Dharamshala college and was allegedly assaulted and threatened by three students on September 18, 2025.
He further alleged that inappropriate conduct by a professor worsened her mental health. “My daughter kept suffering silently. Her condition deteriorated so much that we were only running between hospitals,” he said.
The student was treated in Dharamshala, Tanda and Pathankot before being referred to DMC Hospital in Ludhiana, where she was placed on ventilator support. She died on December 26, 2025. Her last rites were performed the following day, after which the family gathered courage to approach the police formally.
Conflicting claims, questions over delay
Two videos related to the student have emerged, adding complexity to the case. In one, recorded earlier, the student is seen telling her mother that the professor was “good”, while another video, reportedly from the hospital, contains serious allegations. These contradictions have raised questions and are now part of the investigation.
College Principal Rakesh Pathania said the student had failed her first year and was under stress after being unable to secure admission again due to non-payment of fees. He denied receiving any formal complaint of ragging or harassment from the family and said the teacher named in the allegations belonged to a backward community.
Kangra SP Ashok Ratan confirmed that a case had been registered and that all accused would be questioned. “The investigation is ongoing and statements of all concerned parties will be examined carefully,” he said.
Political reactions, demand for fair probe
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur termed the incident “extremely painful” and called for a high-level, impartial inquiry, alleging police negligence. Similar demands were raised by former Dharamshala BJP MLA Vishal Nehria, who said accountability was necessary to ensure justice for the student and prevent such incidents in future.
Police officials, however, said efforts were made earlier to contact the family, but they were not available at that time.
As the investigation continues, the case has sparked widespread outrage and renewed calls for stricter enforcement of anti-ragging laws and safer campus environments, especially for young students navigating academic and personal pressures.
