IIT-K Suspends 22 Students for Sexual Abuse in the Name of Ragging

A nine-member committee found charges of sexual abuse to be true and recommended the termination of the students.

The management of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, on 22 September suspended 22 students who had allegedly ragged freshers. A nine-member committee was formed to probe the incident of sexual abuse in the name of ragging on 18 September.

According to Times of India, the committee found charges of sexual abuse to be true and recommended the termination of the accused students. The management, which was expected to take a decision by November, decided that sixteen students would be suspended for three years, and six for a year.

The incident, which is said to have occurred around a month back at Hall number 2 of the institute, prompted Dheeraj Sanghi, a professor at the institute, to write a blog detailing the abuse of first year students by their seniors, and how it has enjoyed “widespread support” rather than condemnation.

Professor Sanghi, in his blog, claimed that the incident of abuse, lasting for hours, involved “a group of second year students asking first year students to remove all their clothes and press each others’ genitals”.

Detailing the various arguments that are put forward to justify such an incident, he remarked:

I feel really sad when an IIT Kanpur student tries to argue that sexual harassment for a few hours is not ragging, and is in the benefit of first year students.

According to a Times of India report, the incident led some of the first year students to file a complaint with the Dean of Student Affairs, in which they explained how the ragging involved bullying, abuse, as well as performing “formidable tasks”.

A probe committee (chaired by the Dean of Student Affairs), which was formed to investigate the incident, found “some senior students” guilty of ragging their juniors. The report suggested that strict action be taken against the seniors. Professor Sanghi’s blog had earlier said that the committee had recommended the names of 22 students for suspension.

‘Seniors Were Apparently Drunk, Abuses Were Hurled’: Students of IIT Kanpur

One of the students from IIT Kanpur who The Quint spoke to said that some light form of ragging usually happens in hostels at night, and that the freshers can leave if they are not feeling comfortable.

However, the student said that in this particular case, those who were uncomfortable were not allowed to leave till early morning by seniors, who were probably drunk.

Another student, speaking to The Quint on the condition of anonymity, claimed that while he was not present at the time of the incident, others told him that a bunch of juniors were asked to give their introductions by seniors on the day of the alleged incident. However, when some of them did not comply, they were verbally abused.

'But Interactions Between Juniors and Seniors Are Usually Amicable'

However, the students did reiterate that the interactions between juniors and seniors on the campus are usually amicable.

Recounting his personal experience, a student told The Quint that his interactions with the seniors have generally been “playful”.

Whenever I have interacted with the seniors, it has been quite friendly. They did make me sing and dance during introductions, but treated me well after that as well.

IIT Kanpur student

Another said that senior students are generally quite helpful, guiding the freshers in academics as well as extra-curricular activities.

Prof Sanghi’s Blog Triggers Response on Social Media

Even as students stressed the fact that interactions with seniors have usually been “healthy”, professor Sanghi's blog post on the abuse triggered several responses on social media.

One of the comments attributed the occurrence of such incidents to a "systematic failure", calling the system one "which has allowed students to form false notions about what is acceptable due to not calling it out the first time it occurred".

Arguing for “less harsh punishments” in such cases, the user added, “institute punishments should be reformative and reformation can be achieved with less harsh punishments while curing the campus of this evil.”

Another called the incident as one "unheard of in our times", and advocated "strictest punishment" against the second year students involved.

Also Read: Apathy in the Face of Child Abuse: How Prepared Are Schools?

(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT in partnership with #MyRightToBreathe to find a solution to pollution. Send in your suggestions to [e-mail] or WhatsApp @ [phone])