Delhi University all set to check ragging

New Delhi, July 16: As freshers prepare to commence their undergraduate degree courses from tomorrow, the Delhi University has put in place a slew of security measures to check ragging and crack down on anti-social elements on the campus.

Installation of closed-circuit television cameras, deployment of additional police force and mobile patrol vans and setting up of two Joint Control Rooms has been done to ensure that the freshers are not harassed and discipline is maintained.

Police personnel in plain clothes will also be posted at various locations, including DTC buses, to check ragging.

''We want the freshers to attend their classes from day one.

Fear of ragging should not stop them and nobody will be allowed to indulge in ragging, which is a criminal offence,'' Delhi University Proctor Gurmeet Singh told UNI.

''Indiscipline and ragging will be dealt with strictly under the University's Statutes and Ordinances, which give legal authority to Principals and Wardens to take preventive as well as punitive action, wherever required,'' he added.

Prof Singh said a 20-point advisory had been dispatched to college Principals and head of departments, laying down the guidelines for security measures.

''We want to instill confidence among the freshers that nobody will harass them and we are here to help them ensure that they are safe,'' he added.

The University had asked all its 79 colleges to install closed- circuit television cameras to monitor the situation but some institutes could not meet the huge financial burden.

''This is the first time that we are using technology to crack down on people involved in ragging. It will be easy to detect and punish the offenders,'' the Proctor said.

A few days ago, university officials during a meeting with the police top brass finalised the security arrangements.

''We have asked for more police personnel this year and they will be deployed at all strategic locations in North as well as South Campus and hostels. We are sure that this year also there will be no major ragging incident,'' he said.

Police pickets will be set up outside every college with special assistance to women students, Prof Singh said. ''Assistance from police will be sought whenever a situation warrants direct intervention by them,'' he added. Disciplinary committee of every college, including evening colleges, will be activated to monitor the situation and take action on any complaint received.

Prof Singh said suggestion and complaint boxes have been placed across the university.

''Provision of sealed complaint boxes in colleges and especially in hostels has been made. Fixing responsibility for looking into the complaints received will be done and immediate action whenever required will be taken,'' he added ''Our endeavour is to provide safe and conducive atmosphere for students and we are confident that we will achieve it,'' he added.

Other law enforcing agencies and DTC are also helping the University to ensure safety of the freshers Prof Singh said police personnel in plain clothes will be deployed in buses and outside colleges, particularly near women's colleges.

''Buses are an easy target and anti-social elements also try to take advantage of the situation. Plain-clothed police personnel are very effective in catching the people involved in ragging,'' he added.

The Proctor said additional mobile patrol vans will also be used to intensify vigil on and around the campus.

He said college hostels have been requested to restrict the entry of outsiders and to prominently display rules regarding prohibition of ragging.

''Regular and unannounced inspections to detect unauthorised entry and stay in hostels will be done. No guests are to be allowed to stay in the hostels during the initial weeks of reopening of the University for the new academic session,'' he added.

Police will also continue to regulate traffic in various sensitive locations of the Campus and may control entry points.

Last year, the University claimed that not even a single case of ragging had been reported and there was a significant fall in the incidents of ragging during the past three years.

UNI