Vadodara youth leaves Officers' Training Academy for ragging

Vadodara, Nov 9 (UNI) Digvijay Singh, 24, who recently joined the Chennai-based Army Officers' Training Academy as a cadet for Short Service Commission, has returned to the city saying he was unable to bear the alleged ''inhuman ragging'' by his senior cadets.

Digvijay, son of retired Army Colonel Fateh Singh, says he had no other option but to quit the Academy as the unruly seniors were virtually under no one's control.

Alleging that the cadets were subjected to physical and psychological torture by the seniors day and night, Digvijay said he could not even complete one month of his 11-month training programme for Short Service Commission because of continued ragging.

The youth, who had a dream to be an army officer like his father, had reportedly joined the Academy in Chennai on October 9, but returned home disheartened on November 6.

''I sustained head injury during the ragging and was shifted to Bangalore for treatment but made no complaint to the authorities because of the seniors' threat of dire consequences,'' he said.

Talking to mediapersons at his Sama residence, Digvijay further alleged that there was no respite from the ragging even after he joined the training after returning from Bangalore.

Referring to the reported suicide of another cadet Asad Nair in the Academy, Digvijay said Nair was forced to take the extreme step due to severe harassment and torture by seniors during the training.

Though Digvijay left the Academy stating that he was unable to cope with the pressure, his peeved parents are determined to lodge a formal complaint with the President of India and top army officials against the culprits.

UNI SS MAZ DKA RAI2255