SPECIAL STORY
Munish Sood
Dharamshala
The d*eath of a 19-year-old college student in Dharamsala has triggered widespread concern after serious allegations of harassment, ragging and delayed action surfaced. Police have registered a formal case against a college professor and three students following a complaint by the victim’s family.
The deceased student, Pallavi, was a second-year student at Government Degree College, Dharamsala. According to the complaint lodged by her father, a resident of Sidhbari, she was allegedly subjected to physical harassment and intimidation by three classmates, while also facing inappropriate behaviour by a faculty member. The family has claimed that these incidents deeply affected her mental health and pushed her into severe depression.
Police investigations indicate that Pallavi’s condition began deteriorating after the alleged incidents that took place on September 18, 2025. She reportedly remained under intense mental stress for several months, during which her physical health also declined. She was taken to different hospitals in Himachal Pradesh for treatment, and as her condition worsened, she was referred to a medical college hospital in Ludhiana. Pallavi died during treatment on December 26, 2025.
FIR Registered After Public Attention
Following the father’s complaint and growing public attention to the case, the police registered a First Information Report under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act.
The FIR names four accused:
• A college professor, Ashok Kumar
• Three female students — Harshita, Aakriti and Komolika
They have been booked on charges including ragging, physical assault, intimidation, sexual misconduct and abetment, in connection with circumstances that allegedly contributed to the student’s prolonged mental distress and eventual death.
Scope of Investigation
Senior police officials have stated that a detailed and impartial investigation is underway. The probe includes recording statements of students, faculty members and college authorities, collecting medical records from all hospitals where Pallavi received treatment, and examining digital and documentary evidence to establish the exact sequence of events leading to her death.
Family’s Stand
The victim’s father has stated that the family did not immediately pursue a formal police complaint as Pallavi remained critically ill and traumatised for a long period. He said the family’s priority was her treatment, and the delay was also due to the shock and emotional state following her death.
Public Concern Over Campus Safety
The incident has sparked serious concern among students, parents and civil society over issues of campus safety, ragging, harassment and the mental well-being of students. Voices from the community have called for stricter enforcement of anti-ragging laws, timely intervention by authorities, and stronger grievance redressal and counselling mechanisms within educational institutions.
As investigations continue, the case has become a grim reminder of the consequences of delayed action in matters involving student welfare and alleged institutional failures. The family has appealed for justice, urging authorities to ensure accountability and prevent similar tragedies in the future.
