Palghar, Maharashtra: An alleged incident of ragging at a private medical college hostel in Maharashtra’s Palghar district has triggered police action and heightened security on campus. The case involves a first-year female physiotherapy student who claimed she was forced to perform namaz by another student inside the hostel.
The incident reportedly occurred on Sunday night at the college located in Posheri village in Wada taluka. According to the complaint, the victim was stopped on the fifth floor of the hostel by a girl whose face was covered. The accused allegedly pressured her to offer Islamic prayers despite her repeated refusal, creating fear and distress.
The student informed her family the next morning. Her parents later approached the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), alleging that the college management did not respond promptly to their concerns.
Police registered an FIR on Monday night under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act. He said CCTV footage from the hostel is being examined and statements of students are being recorded to identify the accused.
Officials said preliminary findings suggest the incident may be linked to ragging rather than a communal act.
“We have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Maharashtra Prohibition of Ragging Act. We are scanning the CCTV footage and recording statements of other students to identify the accused,” Palghar Superintendent of Police (SP) Yatish Deshmukh, who viisted the campus to assess the situation, said.
Strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible, Deshmukh said.
In response to the incident, the college administration suspended a hostel warden and a teacher for alleged lapses in supervision. The management stated that it is cooperating fully with the police investigation.
Meanwhile, VHP activists submitted a written complaint demanding a high-level inquiry into the functioning of the institution. They alleged that similar incidents have occurred earlier, a claim denied by the college authorities.
Police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any law and order issues.