S Gopal Puri
Dharamshala: The tragic d*eath of a 19-year-old woman student from a Government Degree College in Dharamshala has now triggered a broader public conversation about campus culture, mental health and ragging practices — especially after a video reportedly recorded by the student before her death began circulating online.
Police have registered an FIR against a college professor and three students under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Himachal Pradesh Educational Institutions (Prohibition of Ragging) Act, 2009, following a complaint by the victim’s father.
But what has caught attention beyond the legal case is a video clip shared widely on social media — purportedly recorded by the student during her time of distress. Family members say the video shows her expressing fear, emotional trauma and references to sustained mistreatment on campus.
“She was constantly fearful and traumatized,” the father told police, describing how the emotional strain appeared to worsen over time.
Social Media Outcry: Mental Health and Campus Safety
The circulation of the video has sparked intense debate online, with students, alumni and mental health advocates raising concerns about lack of support systems for distressed students and the effectiveness of anti-ragging mechanisms. Several users have linked this recent case to past incidents in Himachal, where ragging and harassment contributed to fatal outcomes — such as the 2009 death of MBBS student Aman Kachroo, which led to strengthened anti-ragging laws in the state.
Campus safety experts say that while ragging laws exist, enforcement often lags due to institutional reluctance to confront internal faculty or peer misconduct, social pressures, and insufficient counselling services for students showing signs of trauma.
“What we are seeing now is not a discrete incident,” said an education policy analyst, requesting anonymity. “It’s part of a worrying pattern where emotional stressors — ridicule, intimidation, or discrimination — erode a student’s well-being over time.”
Calls for Independent Review and Counselling Infrastructure
In Dharamshala, student groups and parent associations are demanding an independent inquiry panel, better reporting channels for harassment, and campus mental health infrastructure. Some activists are also urging that all institutions implement real-time monitoring of anti-ragging committees and counselling cells, rather than reactive post-incident investigations.
Meanwhile, police say they are collecting medical records and other evidence to establish any direct link between campus harassment and the student’s death. An impartial probe and holistic approach to campus safety are being called for by both civil rights groups and student organizations.
As the case plays out, the viral video has ensured that public scrutiny extends beyond legal charges — bringing into focus whether colleges are equipped to protect students emotionally, socially and academically in the 21st century.
