Jadavpur University’s first-year student, Swapnadip Kundu, was subjected to ragging lasting approximately 120 minutes and tragically, shortly after this incident, Swapnadip fell from the second-floor balcony of the Jadavpur University Main Hostel located outside the campus, leading to his untimely death.

Police revealed that Swapnadip endured abusive and obscene behavior, including comments and gestures, from around 8 pm to 10 pm on Wednesday. He was confined in a hostel room with several others, including Sourav Chowdhury, a former mathematics postgraduate student. Evidence indicated that the ragging continued for over an hour, causing significant mental distress to Swapnadip. Following this, an alleged “counselling” session took place where Saurav was also present.

Sourav’s statements were found to be contradictory and inconsistent, causing suspicion according to the police.

The authorities are now examining whether Sourav had seized Swapnadip’s mobile phone, potentially preventing him from contacting his parents. In court, the police strongly opposed Sourav’s bail, expressing concerns that he might intimidate witnesses and tamper with evidence. They argued that his custody was necessary to reconstruct the sequence of events and identify the roles of other individuals involved.

The Alipore court granted custody of Sourav to the police until August 22. Sourav’s lawyer claimed that he was a victim of a conspiracy and that he had assisted Swapnadip in obtaining a room. As Sourav exited the court lock-up, he proclaimed his innocence. The incident sheds light on the grave consequences of ragging and underscores the importance of addressing such harmful practices in educational institutions.