Ragging victim shifted to Bangalore for treatment

Sambalpur, Oct 20 (UNI) Siba Shankar Ash, the student of Orissa University who was seriusly injured following alleged ragging by seniors on October 10, was yesterday rushed to Bangalore for treatment.

Family sources said the first year student of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) had suffered serious fractures of his legs and spinal cord injury when he was allegedly pushed by the seniors from second floor of OUAT hostel campus in Bhubaneswar.

The incident has rocked the state forcing the government to ask the university authorities to take strong action against the seniors.

The Agriculture Minister had sought a report from the university authority.

The university Dean along with a team of officials had visited Siba Shankar here and recorded his statement. A police team from Bhubaneswar had registered reports after the student's father lodged an FIR alleging ragging.

The OUAT Dean meanwhile, has assured a special examination for the injured student who would be missing the first semester examination slated for this December.

The Sambalpur District Bar Association has strongly condemned the incident and demanded exemplary punishment against the culprits.

A meeting of the association held here yesterday criticising the laxity of OUAT authorities in curbing practice of ragging inside the hostel.

Former Orissa Chief Minister Hemananda Biswal had also visited Siba Shankar while he was undergoing treatment at a private Nurshing home here.

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